UBRAfflf 

Fairfield  County 

Historical  Society.  ! 

ARTICLES  OF  ASSOCIATION 

BY  - LAWS, 

LIST  OF  MEMBERS 

AND 

First  Anniversary  Meeting, 

April  14th,  1882. 


BRIDGEPORT : 

THE  STANDARD  ASSOCIATION,  PRINTERS. 
1 882. 


FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HISTORICAL 
SOCIETY. 


* PRESIDENT. 

ROWLAND  B.  LACEY. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

WINTHROP  H.  PERRY,  Southport. 

CHARLES  BURR  TODD,  Redding. 

A.  B.  HULL,  Danbury. 


RECORDING  SECRETARY. 

NATHANIEL  E.  WORDIN,  M.  D. 


CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY. 

LOUIS  N.  MIDDLEBROOK. 


HISTORIAN  AND  CUSTODIAN  OF  SOCIETY  RECORDS. 

WILLIAM  B.  HINCKS. 


TREASURER  AND  CURATOR. 

RICHARD  C.  AMBLER. 


List  of  Members  of 

FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


IN  ORDER  OF  THEIR  ELECTION. 


Rev.  B.  L.  Swan,  Monroe. 

Abram  W.  Morehouse,  Bridgeport. 

A.  B.  Hull,  Danbury. 

J.  N.  Ireland,  Bridgeport. 

R.  C.  Ambler,  Trumbull. 

Hon.  W.  T.  Minor,  Stamford. 

Hon.  Lemuel  Sanford,  Redding. 

James  L.  Gould,  Biidgeport. 

James  W.  Beardsley,  Bridgeport. 

Henry  M.  Hoyt,  Bridgeport. 

C.  B.  Todd,  Redding. 

H.  G.  Scofield,  Bridgeport. 

James  Ryder,  Danbury. 

Hon.  E.  S.  Hawley,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

H.  K.  Scott,  Ridgefield. 

Curtis  Thompson,  Bridgeport. 

Rev.  J.  K.  Lombard,  Fairfield. 

W.  A.  Beers,  Fairfield. 

Rev.  E.  W.  Maxcy,  D.  D.,  Bridgeport. 

Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  George  S.  Burroughs,  Fairfield. 

A.  H.  Byington,  Norwalk. 

Winthrop  H.  Perry,  Southport. 

Hon.  J.  H.  Trumbull,  LL.  D.,  Hartford. 

Rev.  E.  E.  Beardsley,  D.  D.,  New  Haven. 
Walter  Hubbell,  New  York. 

Henry  S.  Sanford,  Bridgeport. 

C.  J.  IJoadley,  State  Librarian,  Hartford. 

D.  B.  Lockwood,  Bridgeport. 

S.  M.  Middlebrook,  Bridgeport. 

W.  T.  Van  Yorx,  Bridgeport. 

Frederick  Bronson,  Greenfield  Hill,  Fairfield. 
0.  P.  Dexter,  New  York. 


ORIGINAL  MEMBERS. 


R.  B.  Lacey,  Bridgeport. 
W.  H.  Noble,  Bridgeport. 
W.  B.  Ilincks,  Bridgeport. 


G.  C.  Waldo,  Bridgeport. 

L-  N.  Middlebrook,  Bridgeport. 
N.  E.  Wordin,  Bridgeport. 


MEMBERS  SINCE  ADDED. 

* 


:<5'v<ru'vt 


ARTICLES  OF  ASSOCIATION. 


We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  to  wit:  Rowland  B. 
Lacey,  William  H.  Noble,  William  B.  Hincks,  Nathaniel  E.  Wordin, 
George  C.  Waldo  and  Louis  N.  Middlebrook,  all  of  Bridgeport,  Fair- 
field  County,  State  of  Connecticut,  do  hereby  form  a Voluntary  Asso- 
ciation, under  the  laws  of  said  State,  for  the  promotion  and  encour- 
agement of  Historical,  Antiquarian  and  Genealogical  Investigation 
relating  to  said  County  and  the  Towns  composing  it;  the  same  to  con- 
sist of  the  undersigned  as  present  members  thereof,  together  with 
such  others  as  may  be  chosen  by  a unanimous  vote  of  such  meetings 
of  said  Association  as  may  be  hereafter  held  for  that  purpose;  we,  the 
subscribers,  and  our  associates  and  successors,  forever  to  be  known  as 
the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society,  and  to  be  governed  by  such 
officers,  rules  and  by-laws  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  established  by 
said  Association. 

Subscribed  by  us  at  said  Bridgeport  this  February  4tli,  A.  D.  1881. 


And  of  the  same  date,  hereby  waving  any  further  notice  of  a first 
meeting  of  said  Association,  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the  present 
organization  of  the  same,  adopting  rules  and  by-laws,  and  transacting 
any  other  business  that  may  be  lawfully  done  at  such  meeting,  we,  the 
said  subscribers,  do  hereby  unanimously  adopt  the  following  rules  and 
by-laws  for  said  Association: 

Rule  I. — The  officers  of  "said  Association  shall  consist  of  a Presi- 
dent, three  Vice-Presidents,  Treasurer,  Recording  Secretary  and  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  who  shall  be  chosen  annually  from  its  members, 
by  a majority  ballot,  at  the  annual  meeting,  of  the  Association,  upon 
notice  of  the  time,  place  and  purpose  thereof,  to  be  given  by  the  Presi- 
dent and  Corresponding  Secretary,  for  the  time  being,  personally  or  by 
mail,  to  all  of  said  members,  one  week  before  said  meeting. 

And  said  officers  shall  hold  their  offices  for  one  year  from  their  elec- 
tion, and  until  others  shall  be  chosen  in  their  places;  and  their  powers 


ROWLAND  B.  LACEY, 
NATHANIEL  E.  WORDIN, 
WILLIAM  II.  NOBLE, 


GEORGE  C.  WALDO, 
WILLIAM  B.  HINCKS, 
LOUIS  N.  MIDDLEBROOK. 


4 


and  duties  shall  be  those  usually  appertaining  to  those  offices,  except 
when  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Association. 

And  any  vacancy  occurring  in  any  of  said  offices  before  the  expira- 
tion of  its  term,  may  be  filled  for  the  unexpired  portion  thereof,  by 
those  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  said  Association  who  shall  be  in 
the  exercise  of  their  offices  at  the  time. 

Said  officers  shall  also  be  the  Executive  Committee  of  said  Associa- 
tion, and  as  such  shall  have  charge  of  and  direct  all  matters  of  execu- 
tive, financial  and  clerical  business  appertaining  to  the  management  of 
the  Association,  except  when  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Association. 

Rule  II. — The  election  of  new  members  of  said  Association  shall 
be  by  a unanimous  vote,  by  ballot  or  otherwise,  at  any  annual,  regular 
or  special  meeting  of  the  Association  ; the  nomination  of  such  new 
members  having  first  been  made  at  the  last  regular  meeting  preceding 
the  meeting  at  which,  said  vote  shall  be  taken,  and  not  less  than  one 
week  previous  to  such  voting. 

Rule  III. — The  regular  meetings  of  said  Association  shall  be  held 
on  the  first  Friday  evening  of  each  and  every  month ; and  special 
meetings  thereof,  as  also  of  the  Executive  Committee,  may  be  held 
whenever  the  Association  shall  so  order,  or  whenever  the  President 
and  Recording  Secretary  shall  deem  it  necessary  to  call  the  same,  on 
the  giving  of  one  week’s  personal  notice,  or  notice  by  mail,  by  the 
President  and  Recording  Secretary,  of  the  time,  place  and  purpose 
thereof,  to  all  members  of  said  bodies  respectively. 

Rule  IV. — The  first  annual  meeting  of  said  Association  for  the  elec- 
tion of  officers,  and  such  other  business  as  may  be  lawfully  transacted 
thereat,  shall  be  held  in  the  city  of  Bridgeport,  at  the  office  of  the 
Mayor  of  said  city,  at  8 o’clock  p.  m.,  on  the  first  Friday  in  April, 
A.  D.  1881.  And  the  annual  meetings  of  the  Association  thereafter  to 
be  held,  shall  be  held  on  the  anniversary  of  that  day  in  each  year. 

Rule  V. — All  persons  elected  to  and  accepting  membership  in  said 
Association  shall  subscribe  these  original  Articles  of  Association, 
Rules  and  By-Laws. 

Rule  VI. — These  Rules  and  By-Laws  may  be  altered,  amended, 
repealed  or  added  to,  by  a major  vote  of  the  members  present  at  any 
annual,  regular  or  special  meeting  of  said  Association,  held  in  accord- 
ance with  the  rules  of  the  Association. 

Adopted  unanimously  this  4tli  day  of  February,  A.  D.  1881. 

ROWLAND  B.  LACEY,  GEORGE  C.  WALDO, 

NATHANIEL  E.  WORDIN,  WILLIAM  B.  HINCKS, 
WILLIAM  H.  NOBLE,  LOUIS'  N.  MIDDLEBROOK. 


5 


Additional  Rules  adopted  by  the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society 
August  5th,  A.  I).  1881. 

Rule  VII.— The  President  of  this  Association  shall  be,  ex  officio, 
Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Association. 

Rule  VIIT. — The  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  shall  be 
the  Auditor  of  the  accounts  of  the  Association,  and  as  such  shall 
audit  and  approve  all  bills  of  expenses  incurred  by  the  Association 
before  the  same  shall  be  ordered  paid,  and  only  upon  such  audit,  and 
an  order  of  payment  by  the  Association  or  Executive  Committee,  shall 
the  Treasurer  pay  out  any  funds  of  the  Association. 

Rule  IX. — The  Treasurer  of  the  Association  shall  be  also  Curator 
of  the  same  so  long  as  he  shall  be  Treasurer;  and  the  duties  of  the 
office  of  Curator  shall  be  to  have  the  care,  custody  and  preservation  of 
the  books,  papers,  antiquities,  and  all  other  property  of  the  Associa- 
tion. 


ANNIVERSARY  MEETING. 

. The  inception,  organization  and  object  of  the  Fairfield 
County  Historical  Society  are  set  forth  in  its  constitution  and 
the  papers  which  follow. 

The  foundations  are  laid  and  the  one  year’s  work  has  pro- 
duced a fruitage  which  is  decidedly  encouraging.  Valuable 
papers  have  been  prepared  and  read  at  the  monthly  meetings, 
some  of  them  of  great  research  and  rare  value.  Some  inter- 
esting old  books  and  relics  have  been  received,  and  many 
more  are  in  waiting  for  a suitable  depository  for  their  safe 
keeping.  We  bespeak  the  hearty  co-operation  of  all  who  can 
in  any  way  further  the  objects  of  the  society.  The  first  anni- 
versary of  the  Society  occurred  on  the  second  Friday  in  April, 
the  14th,  1882. 

OPENING  ADDRESS  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

When  the  settler  of  a new  country  pushes  into  the  wilder- 
ness,  acquires  and  locates  his  homestead,  he  is,  for  the  time, 
and  naturally  will  be,  for  a number  of  years,  too  much  occu- 
pied with  building  his  cabin,  making  improvements,  rear- 
ing and  providing  for  his  family,  to  attend  to  matters  of  his- 
tory. Current  events,  even,  are  likely  to  be  neglected — much 
more  the  past.  This  remark  will  apply  to  and  illustrate  the 
condition  and  experience  of  the  early  settlers  of  New  Eng- 
land. Though  the  condition  of  succeeding  generations  has 
changed,  and  thrift  and  comfort  have  taken  the  place  of  hard- 
ship and  privation,  so  inwrought  has  been  the  idea  of  utility, 
measured  by  a money  value,  that  to  spend  time  even,  to  fix  and 
perpetuate  the  facts  of  our  early  history  and  the  habits  and 
sentiments  of  the  fathers  and  mothers,  has  been  deemed  ex- 
travagant waste.  Speak  on  this  subject  to  a majority  of  peo- 
ple and  you  will  be  met  with  the  question,  will  it  pay  ? In- 
quiry into  family  genealogies,  at  once  raises,  in  most  minds, 
the  presumption  that  some  estate  or  fortune  in  the  old  coun- 
try is  behind  it. 

The  fact  that  our  grandfathers  and  grandmothers  could  tell 
us,  much  of  our  early  local  history  from  their  own  observation 
and  memory,  or  from  tradition,  has  been  enough  for  too  many 
of  us,  and  we  have  thus  suffered  data  of  intense  interest,  and 


7 


often  of  great  importance,  to  be  buried  in  their  graves  or 
scattered  to  the  winds.  I am  glad  there  are  some  exceptions 
to  this,  and  that  something  has  been  done  to  recover  and  fix 
the  past,  to  transmit  with  current  history  to  succeeding  gen- 
erations. 

The  early  church,  parish  and  town  records  form  a sort  of 
skeleton  or  frame  work  for  our  local  history,  but  these  need 
to  be  supplemented,  amplified,  clothed  or  illustrated  by  per- 
sonal and  family  sketches — specimens  of  implements  and 
articles  useful  and  ornamental — such  as  have  been  to  a limited 
extent  and  can  be  more  largely  gathered  up  in  every  village 
and  hamlet  in  the  county. 

The  store-rooms  and  attics  of  numerous  old  family  resi- 
dences are  the  receptacles  of  books,  papers  and  quaint  articles, 
useful  in  their  time  and  exceedingly  useful  now  as  illustrative 
of  the  thoughts  and  industries  of  a century  or  two  ago,  and 
should  be  preserved. 

Numerous  facts  about  our  early  history  are  now  accessible 
on  research,  more  or  less  dilligent,  which  in  a very  few  years 
will  be  beyond  recovery. 

A few  individuals  have  held  and  pondered  sentiments  like 
these,  and  although  something  had  been  done  in  the  right 
direction,  the  feeling  prevailed  that  to  reach  any  adequate 
results,  combined  organized  effort  was  needed.  This  has  led 
to  the  organization  of  the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Societj^ 
— as  will  be  recited  more  in  detail  by  the  Recording  Secretary. 

I congratulate  you  upon  what  has  been  done  by  the  little 
effort  put  forth  in  one  year,  and  welcome  our  friends  and 
fellow  members  from  abroad  who  have  not  usually  been  found 
at  our  monthty  meetings,  and  those  of  our  fellow  citizens 
who  have  gathered  at  this  our  first  anniversary. 

ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  RECORDING  SECRETARY. 

Mr.  President: 

At  this  anniversary  meeting  of  the  Fairfield  County  His- 
torical Society  it  is  very  proper  and  may  be  somewhat  inter- 
esting to  cast  a look  backward. 

In  the  year  1880,  attention  had  been  called  to  some  liistori- 


8 


cal  facts  connected  with  the  county  by  the  publication  of  a 
book  which,  compiled  by  parties  from  a distance,  by  its  very 
incorrectness  invited  those  interested,  to  have  the  truth.  In 
the  early  part  of  1881  a conversation  took  place  in  the  office 
of  Maj.  L.  N.  Middlebrook,  Franklin  block,  during  which  that 
gentleman  suggested  the  formation  of  a society  whose  mem- 
bers from  different  parts  of  the  county,  working  together, 
should  collect  such  facts  as  could  from  time  to  time  be  gath- 
ered, so  that  the  history  of  our  ancestors  and  the  parts  they 
played  might  be  known. 

A few  gentlemen  notably  interested  in  such  matters  -were 
consulted,  and  on  the  evening  of  January  28th,  1881,  Maj. 
L.  N.  Middlebrook,  Maj.  W.  B.  Hincks,  Mr.  R.  B.  Lacey,  Gen. 
W.  H.  Noble  and  Dr.  N.  E.  Wordin,  met  at  the  residence  of 
the  latter  and  arranged  definitely  for  the  formation  of  the 
Fairfield  County  Historical  Society. 

The  first  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  at  the  office  of 
Maj.  W.  B.  Hincks,  Wheeler’s  Building,  on  the  evening  of 
February  4th,  1881.  Mr.  R.  B.  Lacey  was  chosen  chairman, 
and  Maj.  L.  N.  Middlebrook,  secretary.  Articles  of  Associa- 
tion and  Rules  and  By-Laws  were  adopted,  and  the  roll  of 
membership  wTas  increased  by  the  addition  of  seven  names. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  held  in  the  Mayor’s  office,  April 
1 st,  1881,  the  following  officers  were  chosen : 

President — R.  B.  LACEY,  Bridgeport. 

1st  Vice-President — Hon.  W.  T.  MINOR,  Stamford. 

2nd  “ “ Rev.  BENJ.  L.  SWAN,  Monroe. 

3rd  “ “ CHARLES  BURR  TODD,  Redding. 

Treasurer — Maj.  W.  B.  HINCKS,  Bridgeport. 

Recording  Secretary — Dr.  N.  E.  WORDIN,  Bridgeport. 

Cor.  Secretary — Maj.  L.  N.  MIDDLEBROOK,  Bridgeport. 

These  officers  have  remained  on  duty  during  the  year,  and, 
ex  officio,  constitute  the  Executive  Committee. 

Eleven  regular  monthly  meetings  have  been  held  during  the 
year,  from  only  two  of  which  has  our  President  been  absent. 

The  present  membership  is  thirty-nine,  of  which  there  are 
resident  in  Bridgeport,  nineteen  ; resident  outside  of  Bridge- 


9 


port,  mostly  within  the  county,  twenty.  Among  them  are 
eight  lawyers,  six  clergymen,  five  editors,  six  business  men 
and  five  gentlemen,  business  or  profession  not  stated. 

Original  papers  have  been  presented  and  read  before  the 
Society  during  the  year  as  follows:  By  Bichard  C.  Ambler, 
Esq.,  A.  W.  Morehouse,  Dr.  N.  E.  Wordin,  W.  A.  Beers,  Esq., 
two;  five  in  all.  As  one  of  these  papers  occupied  part  of 
three  evenings,  and  as  three  documents  not  original  with  the 
members  of  the  Society,  but  of  historical  interest,  have  been 
also  read,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  evenings  have  been  well 
occupied  with  literary  labor. 

Seven  members  have  been  asked  to  contribute  articles  who 
have  not  yet  complied.  Probably  most  of  them  will  comply 
during  the  coming  year.  I take  this  opportunity  of  making 
the  suggestion  that  in  the  future  we  carry  out  the  original 
plan  of  the  Society  and  only  receive  such  additional  members 
as  will  contribute  to  our  object,  viz.:  the  collection  of  the 
early  history  of  Fairfield  County. 

I will  also  repeat  here  a suggestion  made  by  one  of  our 
members,  that  some  person  be  appointed  to  gather  such  items 
concerning  our  Society  as  may  be  published  in  the  daily 
papers,  especially  extended  reports  of  essays  and  papers  read 
from  time  to  time,  and  that  they  be  preserved  as  additional 
history  of  our  Society. 

With  congratulation  on  the  unexpected  progress  made  dur- 
ing the  year, 

Kespectfully  submitted, 

N.  E.  WORDIN, 

Recording  Secretary  F.  C.  II.  Society. 

REPORT  OF  THE  CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY. 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Fairfield  County  His- 
torical Society: 

Macaulay,  in  one  of  his  inimitable  essays,  says:  “A  history 
in  which  every  particular  incident  may  be  true,  may  on  the 
whole  be  false.  The  circumstances  which  have  most  influence 
on  the  happiness  of  mankind,  the  changes  of  manners  and 
morals,  the  transition  of  communities  from  poverty  to  wealth, 


10 


from  ignorance  to  knowledge , from  ferocity  to  humanity  ; 
these  are,  for  the  most  part,  noiseless  revolutions.  Their 
progress  is  rarely  indicated  by  what  historians  are  pleased 
to  call  important  events.  They  are  not  achieved  by  armies, 
or  enacted  by  senates.  They  are  sanctioned  by  no  treaties 
and  recorded  in  no  archives.  They  are  carried  on  in  every 
school,  in  every  church,  behind  ten  thousand  counters,  at  ten 
thousand  firesides.” 

And  again,  the  same  noble  author,  in  his  review  of  “ Hol- 
lain's Constitutional  History  of  England , ” takes  occasion  to 
reassert  this  view  of  the  philosophy  of  history,  in  this  way : 

“ To  call  up  our  ancestors  before  us,  with  all  their  peculiari- 
ties of  language,  manners  and  garb,  to  show  us  over  their 
homes,  to  seat  us  at  their  tables,  to  rummage  their  old-fash- 
ioned wardrobes,  to  explain  the  uses  of  their  ponderous  furni- 
ture, these  parts  of  the  duty  which  properly  belongs  to  the 
historian,  have  been  appropriated  by  the  historical  novelist.” 
And  even  the  great  Gibbon  was  willing  to  confess,  “ that  he 
owed  part  of  his  success  as  a historian  to  the  observations 
which  he  made  as  an  officer  in  the  militia.” 

It  is,  I take  it,  gentlemen,  in  the  spirit  indicated  by  these 
sentiments,  that  our  youthful  society,  one  year  ago,  entered 
upon  its  work. 

And  it  appears  to  me,  and  so  I think  it  does  to  all  of  us, 
that  the  reflections  of  the  distinguished  authors  quoted,  most 
peculiarly  illustrate  the  character  of  the  labors  upon  which 
we  have  entered. 

And  yet,  while  our  duties  are  in  the  main  such  as  above  de- 
scribed, the  history  of  Fairfield  County  is  not  entirely  without 
what  even  Lord  Macaulay  would  call  “important  events.”  The 
biography  of  its  principal  founder,  the  father  of  Connecticut 
jurisprudence  and  the  author  of  our  constitutional  govern- 
ment, would  be  an  addition  to  any  archives.  And  it  will  doubt- 
less surprise  some  of  my  hearers  to  learn,  that  in  our  county 
and  within  the  reach  of  this  society,  are  original  autograph 
manuscripts  relating  to  the  military  operations  in  Fairfield 
County  of  Gens.  Washington  and  Putnam,  and  other  foremost 
men  of  the  Revolution,  to  which  their  signatures  are  affixed. 


11 


No  less  curious  would  seem  the  fact  that  some  of  the  gilded 
fragments  of  the  equestrain  statue  of  King  George,  that 
stood  in  the  old  Bowling  Green  in  New  York  city,  until  de- 
molished by  the  indignant  patriots,  are  said  to  be  reposing 
peacefully  in  Fairfield  County. 

But,  gentlemen,  I will  not  detain  you.  Of  the  more  formal 
part  of  the  annual  report  of  your  Corresponding  Secretary, 
there  is  but  little,  and  that  may  be  embraced  in  a few  words. 

Your  correspondence  has  been  conducted  with  many  mem 
eminent  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  both  within  and  without  New 
England,  upon  subjects  germane  to  our  purposes. 

And  this  I desire  more  particularly  to  report,  what  indeed 
you  have  doubtless  observed,  that  the  interest  expressed  by 
these  correspondents,  and  the  desire  manifested  by  them  to 
aid  us  in  our  labors,  has  been  remarkable.  From  this  sign 
alone,  your  Corresponding  Secretary  would  be  willing  to  pre- 
dict prolonged  life  and  success  for  our  cherished  enterprise. 

All  of  which  is  most  respectfully  submitted. 

L.  N.  MIDDLEBROOK, 

Cor.  Secretary  F.  C.  II.  Society. 

After  the  acceptance  of  these  reports,  William  A.  Beers, 
Esq.,  of  Fairfield,  read  his  paper  on  Roger  Ludlow%  which 
has  been  published,  and  the  following  sketch  of  Rev.  Rich- 
ardson Miner  was  read  by  the  author: 

A sketch  from  the  life  of  of  Richardson  Miner,  who  from 
November  18th,  1730,  to  March  21st,  1744,  wras  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  at  Unity  (now  Trumbull),  by  Richard  C. 
Ambler,  Esq. : 

In  writing  upon  this  subject  I shall  be  compelled  to  state 
many  things  which  are  familiar  to  some  of  you  who  have  spent 
days  among  the  records,  which  are  the  source  of  what  little 
information  upon  the  subject  I possess.  Hence,  I beg  you 
not  to  expect  to  be  informed  or  instructed  by  my  paper. 

In  truth,  I feel  at  loss  to  attempt  a paper  upon  a subject  of 
this  nature,  in  which  laboring  among  so  few  facts  I must  be 
confined  simply  to  the  originality  of  clothing  them. 


12 


In  the  first  place  it  may  be  well  to  state  as  preliminary  some 
facts  which,  while  they  may  be  well  known  to  all  hearers,  still 
tend  to  bring  to  mind  more  clearly  the  situation  of  the  work 
in  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  engaged. 

The  old  town  of  Stratford  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, and  later  yet,  comprised  what  is  now  within  the  limits  of 
Stratford,  a part  of  Bridgeport  and  the  whole  of  the  towns  of 
Monroe,  Huntington  and  Trumbull.  This  was  subdivided 
into  districts,  not  having  definite  boundaries,  comprising  New 
Stratford,  now  known  as  Monroe ; Ripton,  now  Huntington ; 
and  North  Stratford  or  Unity,  now  Trumbull. 

The  scattered  population  of  this  large  town  attended  “meet- 
ing” at  Stratford  proper.  As  the  settlement  increased  and 
the  people  spread  farther  and  farther  back  into  the  town,  it 
became  necessary  to  form  a new  society  farther  inland.  This 
was  done  November  18th,  1730. 

The  new  organization  was  called  “Church  of  Christ  at 
Unity.”  This  society  continued  until  May  6th,  1747,  when, 
owing  to  the  conversion  of  Richardson  Miner,  the  pastor,  to 
the  Episcopal  belief,  of  which  circumstance  we  shall  hear 
more  below,  dissention  followed  in  the  church  and  society. 
The  association,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  colony  and  the 
neighboring  associations  sought  to  advise,  but  the  society 
became  so  broken  that  it  was  gathered  anew  by  the  council 
at  the  settlement  of  the  next  pastor,  the  Rev.  James  Beebe. 

“It  was  natural  that  when  the  shepherd  had  thus  sought 
another  fold,  the  one  he  leaves  should  be  scattered.  It  was 
so  here,”  and  wTe  find  on  the  record  of  the  association  that 
over  two-thirds  of  the  Rev.  Richardson  Miner’s  congregation 
at  Unity  followed  him  into  the  Church  of  England.  It  was 
these  people  who  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  parishes  of  Grace 
and  Trinity  Churches,  Trumbull,  and  added  many  members  to 
Christ’s  Church,  Tashua,  and  to  the  Episcopal  parishes  in 
Huntington,  Monroe  and  Stratford.  Then,  of  course,  the 
society  being  so  disunited,  could  no  longer  appropriately  be 
called  by  the  name  of  Unity;  hence,  in  1747,  it  was  changed 
to  the  name  of  Church  of  Christ  at  North  Stratford,  which 


13 


name  it  continued  to  hold  until  the  town  of  Trumbull  was  set 
off  from  Stratford  in  1798. 

Of  the  birthplace  of  Richardson  Miner,  there  has  been 
some  doubt,  which  doubt  has  been  entirely  removed  by  fol- 
lowing up  a circumstance  which  laid  open  a long  missing  clue. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  E.  E.  Beardsley  in  his  history  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  Connecticut,  Vol.  1,  page  142,  speaks  of  Mr.  Miner 
as  going  home  for  orders.  Now,  it  being  a fact  that  he  did 
go  to  England  for  Episcopal  ordination,  of  course  Dr.  Beards- 
ley in  speaking  of  his  going  home  implies  that  his  home  was 
in  England.  That  this  was  a fact  seemed  highly  improbable. 

Mr.  Miner  graduated  at  the  age  of  22  from  Yale  College  in 
the  class  of  1726,  a class  of  23  members,  the  largest  that  had 
graduated  since  the  organization  of  the  college.  Now  only 
the  sons  of  men  who  possessed  some  considerable  "wealth 
were  sent  to  college  in  those  days,  and  it  is  hardly  probable 
that  an  Englishman  of  means  would  have  left  the  wrorld  re- 
nowned universities  of  England  to  educate  his  son  in  a young 
college  in  the  colonies. 

Of  the  date  of  the  birth  of  Mr.  Miner,  I find  the  following 
in  his  own  handwriting,  made  upon  the  society  records  of 
Unity,  after  entering  the  birth  and  baptism  of  his  son,  as  fol- 
lows : “ William,  son  of  the  Rev.  Richardson  Miner  and  his 
wife,  Elizebetli,  born  November  ye  24th,  1739,  baptized  No- 
vember ye  25th.”  He  made  the  following  postcript : “ N. 
B. — The  above  sd  Revd.  Mr.  Miner  was  born  November  ye 
25th,  1704.” 

With  this  record  alone  would  we  have  been  left  and  all 
knowledge  of  his  birthplace  and  ancestors  would  have  been 
unknown,  had  it  not  been  for  the  precision  and  exactness  with 
which  he  made  record  of  all  his  ministerial  acts.  In  the  Unity 
records,  upon  a neglected  fly-leaf,  the  careful  observer  will 
find  entries  written  by  Mr.  Miner  that  time  has  nearly  effaced. 
Among  these  he  recorded  the  fact  of  his  being  at  Stonington 
on  two  occasions,  and  on  one  of  these  times,  July  20th,  1740, 
at  North  Parish,  he  baptized  Robert,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  Miner.  The  distance  of  Stonington  from  Unity, 
taken  into  consideration  with  the  difficulties  of  traveling  in 


14 


those  early  days,  and  also  the  fact  of  the  baptism  of  a person 
in  that  place  named  Miner,  led  me  to  surmise  that  perhaps 
Stonington  was  his  early  home. 

I find  that  the  date  of  Richardson’s  birth  in  the  Miner 
family  records  coincides  fully  with  his  postscript  made  on  the 
records  at  Unity,  thereby  ty  my  mind  sufficiently  identifying 
the  person  to  be  the  same.  Also,  the  New  London  family 
record  not  only  mentions  Samuel  Miner  (who,  by  the  waj%  was 
half  brother  of  Richardson)  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  but  also 
that  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Miner  had  a son  Robert,  born  July 
4th  and  baptized  July  20th,  1740,  which  to  a letter  Confirms 
the  entry  on  the  Unity  records.  This  Robert  Miner  died  un- 
married in  the  French  army  at  Crown  Point,  August  30th,  1761. 

Of  the  ancestors  of  Mr.  Miner,  Savage,  Yol.  III.,  page  216, 
says,  (2)  Thomas  Miner  came  to  this  country  in  1632.  He 
was  son  of  (1)  William  Miner  of  Chew  Magna,  Summerset- 
sliire,  England;  was  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  in  1632  ; was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  church  there ; was  made  a freeman 
March  4tli,  1634  ; removed  to  New  London  in  1645.  He  was 
a very  valuable  man,  was  several  times  chosen  representative, 
and  died  in  1690,  aged  83  years.  He  was  therefore  born  in 
1607. 

The  records  of  the  family  in  New  London  further  say  that 
he  came  to  this  country  in  1630,  with  Governor  Winthrop  and 
family.  That  he  was  married  at  Rehoboth  in  1634  to  Grace 
Palmer,  eldest  daughter  of  Walter  Palmer  ; moved  to  Water- 
town,  then  Charlestown  and  finally  came  to  Connecticut  with 
young  Winthrop  and  settled  in  Saybrook.  In  1643  he  settled 
in  New  London,  and  in  1645  moved  to  Quiambog,  where  he 
died  in  1690.  He  had  twelve  children.  His  son  (3)  Manassah 
was  born  in  New  London  April  28th,  1647,  and  was  the  first 
born  white  male  child  in  New  London.  He  married  Mrs. 
Lydia  Moore  for  his  first  wife ; had  five  children,  and  died 
August  22nd,  1728  ; (4)  Elnathan,  the  first  child  of  Manassah, 
was  born  December  20th,  1671.  He  had  three  wives.  He 
married  his  second  wife,  widow  Prudence  Hallam,  March 
17th,  1703.  By  this  wife,  (5)  Richardson,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born. 


15 


Four  years  after  his  graduation,  Richardson  Miner  makes 
the  first  entry,  or  “account,”  as  he  calls  it,  in  the  records  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  at  Unity.  It  is  as  follows : “ November 
ye  18th,  1730,  there  was  a church  gathered  and  settled  at 
Unit}",  and  the  same  day  was  ordained  there  the  Rev’d  Rich- 
ardson Miner,  by  Presbyters  the  Rev’d  Messrs.  Joseph  Webb, 
of  Fairfield ; Samuel  Cook,  of  Stratfield  ; Hezekiah  Goold,  of 
Stratford,  and  Mr.  Jedediah  Mills,  of  Ripton.  Mr.  Cook 
preached;  Mr.  Webb  made  the  first  prayer;  Mr.  Cook  gave 
the  charge ; Mr.  Goold  gave  the  right-hand  of  fellowship,  and 
Mr.  Mills  made  the  last  prayer.”  Such  is  the  record  of  the 
ordination  of  Mr.  Miner  to  the  charge  of  the  Church  of  Christ 
at  Unity.  Of  Hezekiah  Goold,  spoken  of  in  the  records  by 
Mr.  Miner,  the  following  incidents  are  related  by  Dr.  Beards- 
ley. But  in  order  to  more  fully  appreciate  them  we  must 
bear  in  mind  the  great  excitement  caused  in  religious  circles 
by  the  extravagancies  of  Whitefield  during  this  time.  u Mr. 
Goold  in  one  of  his  sermons  pronounced  Dr.  Johnson  and  all 
his  people  unconverted,  and  not  only  so  but  intruders  and 
workers  of  all  manner  of  mischief.  The  following  is  quoted 
as  being  well  authenticated,  that  Dr.  Johnson,  meeting  one  of 
his  parishioners  one  day,  was  enquired  of  by  him  whether  his 
church  was  increasing.  ‘Yes,’  replied  Johnson,  ‘it  is  increas- 
ing, I am  a feeble  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God,  but  thanks 
be  to  him.  He  has  placed  my  left-handed  brother  Goold  here 
who  makes  six  churchmen  while  I can  make  one-'” 

The  Society  at  Unity  was  very  prosperous  under  the  charge 
of  Mr.  Miner.  During  the  fourteen  years  of  his  pastorate 
there  were  added  to  the  church  one  hundred  and  four  mem- 
bers. Thirty-eight  of  whom  signed  on  the  day  of  his  ordina- 
tion and  the  remaining  sixty-six  at  subsequent  times.  He 
joined  in  marriage  thirty-eight  couples  and  baptized  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-one  persons,  the  most  of  whom  were  infants 
less  than  two  days  old,  and  in  one  case  of  a “ son  Reuben,  to 
Daniel  Sherwood  and  Ann  his  wife,  baptized  Sept.  3rd,  1732,” 
and  adds  in  a postscript,  “born  an  hour  and  a half  before 
baptism.”  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  what  the  doctrine  of 
infant  baptism  was  fully  indorsed  by  Mr.  Miner’s  people. 


16 


* Richardson  Miner  was  married  May  16th,  1725,  to  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Theopholus  Munson.  She  was  born  Sep- 
tember 20tli,  1751.  Theopholus  Munson  was  son  of  Samuel, 
who  was  baptized  August  7th,  1643,  who  was  son  of  Thomas 
Munson.  Thomas  Munson  first  settled  in  Hartford  and  soon 
removed  to  New  Haven,  which  he  represented  in  the  General 
Assembly  twenty-four  sessions,  from  1660  to  1683.  Elizabeth 
Munson  was  a New  Haven  lady,  and  as  fatal  to  the  single 
blessedness  of  our  young  graduate  as  so  many  of  the  ladies 
for  whose  beauty  New  Haven  is  yet  renowned,  are  to  the 
graduates  of  to-day. 

Mr.  Miner  had  a child  named  Henrietta,  born  in  New 
Haven  July  5th,  1728,  which  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Joseph 
Noyes.  In  November,  1729,  we  find  him  in  Stratford,  where 
the  Rev.  Hezekiah  Goold  baptized  another  child,  named  Pru- 
dence, which  was  born  November  18th,  1729.  Just  one  year 
after,  i.  e.,  November  18th,  1730,  as  stated  above,  he  took  his 
first,  which,  so  unfortunately,  turned  out  to  be  his  last  pastoral 
charge. 


While  at  Unity,  Mr.  Miner  lived  about  a quarter  of  a mile 
above  the  “meeting  house,”  on  the  same  side  of  the  way,  in  a 
house  which  stood  in  the  lot  opposite  the  residence  of  Isaac 
Booth,  Esq.  The  “ meeting  house  ” stood  near  where  the 
barn  of  John  Booth,  Esq.,  now  stands,  on  the  corner  opposite 
the  residence  of  the  late  Dr.  Dyer. 

In  the  records  we  find  the  account  of  the  births  and  bap- 
tisms of  the  remaining  eight  children,  viz. : 

Esther,  born  March  4th,  1731.  Baptized  by  her  father. 

Isabella,  “ Jan.  1st,  1732.  “ “ “ 

Elizabeth,  “ March  7th,  1734.  “ “ “ “ 

Martha,  “ “ “ 1735.  “ “ “ 

“ died  “ 12th,  1735. 

Richardson,  born  March  5th,  1736.  Baptized  by  his  father. 

Martha,  “ Feb.  13th,  1737.  “ “ her  “ 

Rebeccah,  “ Oct.  16th,  1738.  “ “ “ 

William,  “ Nov.  24th,  1739.  “ “ his  “ 

“ died  March  22nd,  1740. 


•* Trowbridge  family  records  in  New  Haven. 


17 


Of  the  home  life  of  Richardson  Miner  we  have  no  particular 
record.  But  we  do  know  that  he  led  a busy  life.  By  refer- 
ence to  the  biographies  of  the  New  England  Clergy  of  the 
earlier  times,  it  is  I believe  true  that  those  who  came  over  in 
the  first  migrations  and  the  generation  following  them  usually 
combined,  the  professions  of  ministry  and  medicine.  For 
example,  Rev.  John  Bulkley,  1635-1689 ; Rev.  John  Allen, 
1637-1680;  Rev.  Joshua  Hobart,  1629-1717;  Rev.  Charles 
Chauncy,  1654,  and  Rev.  Israel  Chauncy,  1665-1703,  the  latter 
of  Stratford.  I might  mention  many  others,  but  this  will 
suffice  to  show  that  it  was  not  uncommon  for  the  minister  and 
the  doctor  to  be  one  and  the  same  person.  But  in  the  time 
of  Richardson  Miner,  I think  it  was  more  exceptional  than  it 
had  been  for  several  generations  previous,  and  I do  not  doubt 
but  that  the  practice  was  growing  unusual.  We  know  that 
with  many  clergy  in  the  time  of  Mr.  Miner  it  was  customary 
to  mingle  their  clerical  duties  with  those  of  farming  and  often 
as  has  been  so  aptly  said  by  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes,  in  speak- 
ing of  New  England  clergy  of  that  period,  “ they  toiled  like 
day  laborers  teasing  lean  harvests  out  of  their  small  enclos- 
ures of  land,  for  the  New  England  soil  is  not  one  that  laughs 
when  tickled  with  a hoe,  but  rather  one  that  sulks  when  ap- 
pealed to  with  that  persuasive  implement.” 

Mr.  Miner  was  an  exception  to  this  rule,  for  he  not  only 
combined  medicine  with  his  duties  as  a pastor,  but  was  a 
physician  with  a large  and  lucrative  practice.  His  visits  were 
not  only  about  Unity  but  extended  into  Fairfield,  New  Strat- 
ford, Tashua,  Ripton  and  Stratford.  The  fact  of  his  being  a 
physician  undoubtedly  accounts  for  the  very  tender  age  in 
which  many  infants  were  brought  to  baptism.  A child  in  deli- 
cate health,  as  the  record  shows,  was  often  baptized  the  same 
day  of  its  birth. 

By  the  fact  of  his  having  a large  practice,  w^e  must  not  allow 
ourselves  to  come  to  the  conclusion  that  Mr.  Miner  was  well 
to  do  in  worldly  goods.  He  was  reared  by  parents  of  wealth, 
for  those  days,  and  had  undoubtedly  always  lived,  well  caring 
for  his  bodily  wants,  in  fact  it  has  been  said  of  Mr.  Miner  that 
he  was  a high  liver  and  that  he  was  quite  particular  as  to  his 


18 


personal  appearance.  That  this  was  true  I do  not  doubt. 
But  it  cannot  be  said  that  there  was  fault  in  this,  for  if  there 
was  any  fault  at  all,  it  was  in  his  early  training.  Then  too 
when  we  consider  his  large  family  living  in  the  same  style  we 
can  easily  conceive  that  although  his  practice  might  be  quite 
lucrative,  still  there  would  not  be  much  for  the  traditional 
“rainy  day.”  • It  is  also  said  by  one  of  his  descendants  that 
(Eli  Walker,  Esq.,  grandson  of  Mr.  Miner,  and  died  May  29th, 
1879,  aged  96),  he  had  calls  to  preach  in  other  parishes  but 
that  he  would  not  accept  them  because  he  could  not  afford  to 
give  up  his  established  practice. 

He  often  visited  Stratford  and  there  saw  Dr.  Samuel  John- 
son, rector  of  Christ  Church,  (Episcopal,)  who  spoke  of  him  in 
glowing  terms  of  praise.  He  described  Mr.  Miner  as  being  of 
fine  gentlemanly  appearance  and  bearing.  We  can  imagine 
him  as  being  apt  in  the  gentle  courtesies  which  seemed  inborn 
to  a gentleman  of  that  fine  old  school. 

That  he  was  a man  of  high  culture  and  education;  a man 
deeply  imbued  with  a fine  sense  of  honor  and  accuracy,  I 
have  no  doubt,  as  we  can  determine  the  workman  by  his  chips 
so  can  we  determine  a considerable  of  the  accuracy  ; of  the 
openness  of  character  ; the  culture  ; and  the  education  of  Mr. 
Miner  from  the  record  of  fourteen  years,  made  during  his  so- 
journ at  Unity.  He  wrote  in  a beautiful  round  hand,  which 
shows  both  in  the  nerved  inflexibility  of  lines  and  definitely 
finished  letters,  not  only  that  he  w’as  a prompt  ready  writer, 
but  that  he  was  open  in  character  and  accurate  in  finish.  Here 
too  he  leaves  the  best  of  testimony  concerning  his  culture  and 
education  in  the  ever  accurate  use  of  letters,  words  and  sen- 
tences, showing  that  he  did  not  mistake  the  varied  use  and 
signification,  but  that  with  the  skill  of  a scholar  he  framed 
the  long  covenants  with  a dexterous  vividness  of  meaning. 

The  seed  of  Episcopacy  had  for  some  time  been  sown  in  the 
fertile  soil  of  Connecticut.  Cutler,  the  President  or  Rector 
of  Yale,  Johnson,  Brown,  Beach,  and  several  other  well  known 
Congregational  divines,  had  espoused  the  cause.  Could  it  be 
that  young  Miner,  too,  was  already  interested  in  the  all  im- 
portant subject  of  the  day  1 Perhaps  so.  The  subject  was 


19 


largely  discussed.  In  a letter  to  England,  written  June  11th, 
1724,  Dr.  Johnson  speaks  of  going  to  New  London  and  of 
holding  services  there.  Perhaps  it  was  then  that  our  young 
friend  first  met  that  eminent  divine. 

Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  and  Mr.  Miner  were  on  terms  of  inti- 
macy, and  undoubtedly  many  of  the  views  entertained  by  Mr. 
Miner  found  genial  nourishment  in  the  cultured  society  of 
his  friend,  and  it  was  without  much  doubt  in  the  quiet  study 
in  the  old  Johnson  mansion  in  Stratford  that  Mr.  Miner  be* 
came  convinced  that  it  was  his  duty  to  openly  stand  before 
the  world  in  the  true  light  of  his  Episcopal  beliefs. 

There  are  rumors  that  Mr.  Miner  left  the  Congregational 
faith  for  the  gratification  of  personal  ambition ; that  his  edu- 
cation, gentlemanly  appearance  and  superior  abilities  had  so 
attracted  the  leaders  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land in  the  colony  that  large  inducements  were  held  out  per- 
suading him  to  seek  ordination  from  the  Bishops  in  England. 
That  Dr.  Johnson  was  represented  as  saying,  upon  hearing  of 
Mr.  Miner’s  death  in  England,  that  had  he  lived  he  would 
have  been  foremost  among  the  candidates  for  consecration  as 
the  first  Bishop  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  America.  At  the 
ordination  of  the  Kev.  James  Beebe  over  the  new  society 
called  together  May  6th,  1747,  at  North  Stratford,  and  com- 
prising the  remaining  one-third  portion  of  the  old  society  at 
Unity,  which  did  not  join  the  Episcopal  Church  upon  the  dis- 
charge of  Mr.  Miner  three  years  before,  i.  e.  March  21st,  1744, 
if  any  conclusion  can  be  formed  from  the  text  chosen  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Woodb ridge  of  Unity,  which  was  from  1st  Timothy, 
3:1 : “ This  is  a true  saying,  if  a man  desire  the  office  of  a 
Bishop  he  desire th  a good  work.”  I would  conclude  that  some 
of  these  rumors  had  reached  the  ears  of  Mr.  Woodbridge. 

Whether  there  was  any  foundation  for  these  reports,  I 
know  not,  but  I prefer  to  believe  that  even  if  such  rumors 
were  afloat,  that  Richardson  Miner  left  the  Puritan  faith  out 
of  pure  conscientiousness  on  the  point  of  duty,  and  that  that 
conscientiousness,  if  augmented  at  all  by  any  influence  outside 
of  his  own  mind,  was  augmented  by  what  was  then  considered 
the  extravagancies  of  Whitefield. 


20 


Kickardson  Miner  in  leaving  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  of 
Unity  must  have  encountered  numerous  difficulties.  In  order 
to  realize  more  fully  the  situation,  we  must  place  ourselves 
among  those  with  whom  he  was  working.  We  must  imagine 
the  trials,  the  discomforts,  the  hardships,  not  only  of  a poor 
young  minister  in  a young  and  struggling  parish,  but  of  one 
reared  by  some  tender  hands,  of  one  who  had  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  in  the  society  of  a cultured  mother,  must  have  met 
in  a parish  situated  in  a back  settlement  of  a new  country. 

The  society  at  Unity  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  com- 
prised what  is  now  known  as  Trumbull.  It  was  settled  by  a 
rough  and  hardy  class  of  people.  Not  by  the  men  who  fifty 
and  one  hundred  years  before  had  landed  from  England  and 
used  the  little  fortunes  they  had  brought  with  them  in  the 
purchase  of  uncleared  lands  lying  in  indefinitely  large  tracks 
back  in  the  country.  Not  by  these  same  men  who  erected  the 
mansions  of  imported  materials  in  the  settlements  upon  our 
coast  towns,  many  of  which  still  remain,  records  oftentimes  of 
the  folly  of  those  who  thought  that  in  a new  country  wealth 
untold  would  come  to  their  empty  coffers  at  the  bidding,  for- 
getful that  a sure  foundation  and  first  step  must  exist  to  the 
ladder  leading  to  wealth  as  well  as  to  any  other  height.  But 
the  congregations  which  gathered  in  the  little  “ meeting  house” 
at  the  foot  of  the  street  at  Unity  to  listen  to  the  sermons  of 
Mr.  Miner  were  the  children  and  grand-children  of  those  who 
having  spent  their  living,  left  as  a heritage  the  rough  and 
rocky  acres.  It  was  then  that  the  struggle  began.  It  was 
not  with  the  well-to-do  settler  who  lived  by  his  comfortable 
fireside  in  his  mansion  house  in  Stratford  and  Fairfield  that 
Mr.  Miner  labored,  but  with  earnest  struggling  men  and 
women  having  little  or  no  education,  for  in  that  struggle  for 
existence  there  was  little  or  no  time  or  money,  for  schools  or 
learning.  Here,  among  these  people  he  had  made  his  home 
for  fourteen  years,  during  which  time  what  a terrible  struggle 
must  have  been  going  on  in  his  mind.  Among  poor  people 
and  with  his  large  family,  let  his  practice  in  medicine  be  what 
it  might,  he  could  barely  have  eked  out  an  existence.  How 
then  could  he  think  of  leaving  his  family  without  support  for 


21 


a time  sufficient  for  the  journey  to  England  and  return,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  expense  of  such  a journey  ? It  must  have 
been  a question  of  stern  duty  with  him,  that  he  was  led  to 
make  such  a sacrifice. 

After  leaving  his  charge  at  Unity,  March  21st,  1744,  he 
went  to  Stratford,  where  he  and  his  wife  caused  their  names 
to  be  entered  upon  the  records  of  Christ  Church,  Episcopal, 
as  communicants  of  that  church.  Then  he  officiated  in  Stam- 
ford as  lay  rector  until  he  embarked  upon  his  fatal  voyage  to 
England  for  Holy  Orders. 

Dr.  Beardsley  speaks  of  the  voyage  as  follows:  “The  Episco- 
palians in  Stamford  and  vicinity  with  a view  of  having  him  as 
their  minister  exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost  of  their  abili- 
ties to  assist  him  to  go  to  England  for  Holy  Orders.  Accord- 
ingly he  embarked  with  Joseph  Lampson,  afterwards  the  faith- 
ful missionary  at  Fairfield,  but  the  vessel  was  taken  upon  its 
passage  by  the  French.  After  he  and  his  companions  were 
released  from  confinement,  and  while  on  their  way  from  Port 
Louis,  in  France  to  London,  Mr.  Miner  died,  at  the  age  of 
forty,  in  the  same  year  1744,  of  a fever  at  Salisbury,  to  the 
great  sorrow  of  his  waiting  flock  and  dependant  family.”  He 
had  not  reached  the  point  of  his  destination  and  therefore 
had  not  been  ordained  in  the  Church  of  England  when  smitten 
down  with  death.  Dr.  Johnson  in  alluding  to  the  event  ex- 
claimed, “ would  to  God  wre  had  a bishop  to  ordain  here  which 
would  prevent  such  unhappy  disasters.”  Rev.  Daniel  Brown 
only  a few  years  previous  had  died  while  on  the  same  mission, 
and  now  Richardson  Miner’s  name  is  added  to  the  list  of  those 
who  left  home,  friends  and  a dependant  family  to  seek  Holy 
Orders  in  England,  braving  the  perils  of  the  sea,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  small-pox,  which  then  was  most  terrible  in  its  rav- 
ages. It  was  not  with  Miner  as  with  Brown,  for  the  latter 
had  been  ordained  and  had  once  lifted  his  voice  as  a minister 
of  the  church  for  which  he  had  periled  so  much.  But  with 
Mr.  Miner  it  was  different,  Death,  that  servant  of  God  sent 
only  to  bear  the  soul  to  its  home,  had  come  on  its  mysterious 
mission,  and  the  comparatively  insignificant  plans  of  man 
were  unfulfilled. 


22 


Granted,  that  Richardson  Miner’s  name  has  no  place  in  the 
roll  of  eminent  divines  ; granted,  that  his  powers  as  a progeni- 
tor of  the  Church  of  England  in  Connecticut  have  become 
traditional.  Do  you  know  that  the  most  essential  part  of  a 
building  is  always  under  ground  ? That  the  fairest  islands  of 
the  South  Seas  are  based  upon  the  results  of  labors  carried 
on  for  generations  beneath  the  level  of  the  waves  ? And  that 
to  use  the  words  of  Emerson  “ every  revolution  was  once  a 
thought  in  one  man’s  mind,”  who  is  not  less  its  author  though 
all  trace  of  the  original  impulse  vanishes  ere  it  is  reached?  I 
say  that  much  of  the  strength  of  to-day  of  the  Episcopal 
church  in  what  was  the  original  limits  of  the  old  town  of  Strat- 
ford owes  its  existence  through  the  labors  of  Richardson 
Miner.  That  he  was  essentially  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 
church  in  these  parts  of  Fairfield  county. 


Main  STREET 


23 


24 


On  the  preceding  page  is  shown  a diagram  of  what  has  been 
known  by  the  older  inhabitants  of  Bridgeport  as  the  “ Great 
Fire  of  1845.” 

The  diagram  also  gives  a good  illustration  of  the  then  busi- 
ness portion  of  the  city,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  the  burnt  dis- 
trict comprised  the  principal  business  houses  of  the  place. 

The  fire  was  first1  discovered  about  half-past  one  o’clock  of 
the  morning  of  December  12th,  1845,  in  a large  wooden  build- 
ing on  the  south  side  of  Bank  street,  near  Water,  occupied  by 
George  A.  Wells  (A)  as  a boarding  house  and  oyster  saloon. 
It  originated  in  the  cellar  where  there  was  a quantity  of  shav- 
ings and  wood  stored  for  fuel.  It  had  made  considerable 
progress  before  it  was  discovered,  and  it  spread  so  rapidly 
that  the  family  of  Mr.  Wells  had  time  only  to  save  themselves 
and  a few  articles  of  furniture  near  at  hand.  One  young  lady 
an  inmate  of  the  family,  was  rescued  by  a neighbor  from  the 
burning  building,  she  having  become  confused  in  the  excite- 
ment of  the  alarm.  The  weather  was  bitter  cold  with  a light 
breeze  from  the  north  and  northwest.  The  alarm  being  given, 
the  firemen  responded  as  quickly  as  possible,  but  their  facili- 
ties for  extinguishing  a fire  were  very  limited  at  the  best,  and 
they  were  in  this  instance  virtually  powrerless,  the  tide  be- 
ing low  in  the  harbor  they  were  unable  to  obtain  any  water. 
In  the  meantime,  the  fire  spread  with  great  rapidity  to  an 
adjoining  building  corner  of  Bank  and  Water  streets,  owned  by 
Silvanus  Sterling  and  occupied  by  L.  & L.  B.  Sterling  (B)  as  a 
house  furnishing  and  stove  store,  and  occupied  above  by  two 
families,  one  of  whom  was  named  McAdams.  The  building  ad 
joining  (C),  occupied  by  A.  Gordon  and  others  as  a dwelling, 
took  fire  about  the  same  time.  On  the  opposite  side  of  Bank 
street  a building  (U)  owned  by  C.  B.  Hubbell  was  occupied  by 
Philip  Conrad  as  a meat  market  and  dwelling,  which  was  en- 
tirely consumed,  together  with  most  of  the  stock  and  furniture 
Adjoining  this  at  the  east  (O)  was  a building  occupied  by 
Messrs.  Hubbell  & Thompson  as  a carpet  room,  their  princi- 
pal store  being  on  Water  street  (2).  The  corner  building  (D) 
was  occupied  by  Olmstead  & Keeler.  This  firm  succeeded  in 
saving  most  of  their  stock.  The  remaining  building  on  Bank 


street  (9)  was  owned  by  B.  Brooks  and  occupied  by  F.  Lock- 
wood  as  a cabinet  shop.  Most  of  the  stock  was  got  out. 
Nearly  opposite  stood  the  residence  of  C.  B.  Hubbell,  Esq., 
which  escaped  the  flames,  and  at  the  west,  on  the  site  of  the 
post-office  building,  stood  the  old  residence  of  William  Peet, 
which  also  checked  the  spread  of  the  flames  in  that  direction. 
Had  the  latter  house  caught  fire  the  probabilities  are  that  the 
flames  would  have  spread  into  Main  street  and  destroyed  every 
building  on  the  block. 

The  building  was  only  saved  by  the  most  strenuous  exer- 
tions, the  hanging  of  carpets  on  the  east  side  and  keeping 
them  wet  with  water  drawn  from  a well  on  the  premises.  Of 
the  buildings  on  the  west  side  of  Water  street,  above  Bank, 
were  Lockwood  & Zane  (F),  hardware  and  stove  dealers.  They 
saved  a portion  of  their  stock.  The  building  was  owned  by 
D.  B.  Nichols.  Adjoining  was  the  dry  good  store  of  Hubbell 
& Thompson,  who  saved  the  most  of  their  stock.  The  next 
(W)  was  occupied  by  G.  Forbes  as  a clothing  store,  who  also 
saved  nearly  all  his  stock.  The  building  was  owned  by  T.  & 
W.  Hawley.  Adjoining  (T)  was  the  drug  slore  of  the  late 
Joseph  Thompson,  and  the  upper  portion  occupied  as  a dwell- 
ing. Mr.  Thompson  succeeded  in  saving  a portion  of  his 
stocjc.  Kodney  Curtis  (shoe  store  adjoining)  (X),  saved  most 
of  his  stock.  The  building  was  of  small  value,  and  was  owned 
by  I.  H.  Whiting.  The  adjoining  store  (2)  was  also  owned  by 
I.  H.  Whiting,  and  occupied  by  John  H.  Whiting,  grocer. 
The  building  (Y)  owned  by  D.  Hatch  and  occupied  by  Schuy- 
ler Seeley  as  a shoe  store,  was  pulled  down  and  the  fire 
checked  from  further  spreading  in  that  direction. 

Below  Bank  street,  on  the  west  side  of  Water,  (E)  was  oc 
cupied  by  O.  & W.  Sherman,  grocers  ; (G)  by  George  A.  Wells 
as  a grocery.  This  and  the  adjoining  building  (I)  was  occu- 
pied by  Henry  Hall  as  a grocery  store,  and  owned  by  Mrs.  T. 
Hubbell.  The  goods  in  these  stores  were  partially  saved. 

On  the  north  side  of  State  street  (23)  was  occupied  in  the 
lower  part  by  William  A.  Whiting  as  an  oyster  saloon,  and 
above  as  a dwelling.  It  was  owned  by  Mrs.  S.  Sherman.  The 
buildings,  1,  2,  3,  4, 5,  were  a row  owned  by  Benjamin  Wheeler 


26 


and  occupied  below  as  shops  and  stores,  and  above  as  dwell- 
ings. Their  value  was  small  and  not  insured.  Adjoining  (6) 
was  the  grocery  store  and  billiard  room  of  G.  G.  Wheeler ; 7 
was  the  cabinet  wareroom  of  F.  Lockwood,  and  8 occupied  by 
Samuel  Hodges  as  a shoe  store 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  (22)  was  an  old  rookery 
known  as  the  “ Flat  Iron,”  occupied  by  a number  of  colored 
families,  owned  by  Benjamin  WhCeler.  The  four  buildings 
east  (18,  19,  20  and  21)  were  owned  by  D.  B.  Nichols,  the  heirs 
of  Jesse  Sterling,  the  Misses  Lacey  and  E.  Thompson.  In  18 
was  500  bushels  of  wheat  belonging  to  Byan  & Thorp  of 
Weston.  The  upper  portion  was  occupied  as  a dwelling  ; 19 
was  a tailor  shop  and  dwelling,  and  20  and  21  were  also  dwell- 
ings. The  corner  of  State  and  Water  streets  (15)  was  occu- 
pied by  E.  Thompson  as  a grocery,  16  by  Palmer  as  an  eating 
and  boarding  house,  and  17  was  the  temperence  house  kept  by 
A.  A.  McNeil.  The  fire,  fortunately,  was  stopped  here,  as 
there  was  a large  lumber  yard  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  way 
and  several  dwellings  below,  which  would  have  been  destroyed. 

On  the  opposite  side,  11,  12  and  13  were  owned  by  David 
Perry  and  occupied  principally  for  storage,  with  one  or  two 
dwellings  above;  14  was  the  old  store  of  A.  Hawley  & Co.  ; 
10  was  occupied  by  Hall  & Burroughs  as  a wholesale  grocery 
with  dwelling  above.  It  was  owned  by  I.  Burroughs.  The 
goods  were  mostly  saved.  The  next  store  above,  owned  by 
I.  & W.  DeForest,  was  occupied  by  T.  Ranson  & Co.,  whole- 
sale grocers,  and  contained  a large  and  valuable  stock.  A 
small  portion  only  was  saved  The  adjoining  store  (R)  was 
owned  and  occupied  by  Mathew  Curtis  as  a paint  store.  The 
next  (N)  was  occupied  by  Morford,  Northrop  & Co.,  wholesale 
grocers.  The  building  was  owned  by  Philo  Hurd,  who  also 
occupied  an  office  on  the  second  floor  as  an  insurance  office. 
Henry  Burroughs  owned  and  occupied  the  next  one  (M)  as  a 
flour  and  fish  store.  The  goods  from  this  and  Mathew  Curtis’s 
store  were  removed  to  the  wharf  for  safety,  but  the  fire  over- 
took and  destroyed  the  greater  portion  before  they  could  be 
rescued.  Charles  DeForest  occupied  the  store  next  adjoining 
^L)  as  a wholesale  grocery,  and  the  upper  portion  by  L.  & L. 


27 


B.  Sterling  as  a stove  depot.  The  building  belonged  to  the 
heirs  of  S.  Burroughs.  Edwards  & Whiting  occupied  the 
building  (K)  as  a fish  market.  Adjoining  (J)  was  occupied  by 
Niles,  Thorp  & Co.,  wholesale  grocers.  The  building  wTas 
owned  by  C.  B.  Hubbell.  Their  books  and  papers  were 
partially  destroyed,  the  iron  safe  proving  worthless.  The 
brig  Joseph  Gorham  was  lying  in  the  rear  of  this  store  when 
the  fire  reached  it,  and  in  attempting  to  move  her  she  ran 
aground  and  was  only  saved  by  the  greatest  efforts.  The  next 
store  (H)  had  been  used  as  a hide  and  leather  store  by  Morris 
& Marvin.  Sherwood  Sterling  occupied  the  next  store  (P)  as 
a cordage  and  iron  store.  The  next  store  (Y)  occupied  by 
Lockwood  & Zane  as  a stove  depot,  and  owned  by  Sherwood 
Sterling.  The  fire  was  checked  here  by  the  liberal  use  of 
salt  water,  and  the  adjoining  store  of  Munson  Hawley  saved, 
although  somewhat  scorched. 

The  contest  was  ended  about  4 o’clock.  The  streets  out- 
side the  burned  district  were  filled  with  goods  and  furniture. 
These  had  in  many  instances  been  moved,  but  not  saved. 
The  lack  of  water  enabled  the  fire  to  obtain  its  great  headway, 
and  most  of  the  damage  on  Water  street  was  done  while  wait- 
ing for  the  tide  to  rise. 

The  number  of  buildings  destroyed  were  49,  and  all  were 
of  wood.  Some  forty  families  were  burned  out. 

The  amount  of  loss  was  estimated  at  $150,000,  on  which 
there  was  an  insurance  of  $80,000.  Among  the  goods  de- 
stroyed were  about  800  barrels  of  flour,  100  barrels  of  mack- 
erel, large  quantities  of  tea,  coffee,  sugar,  molasses,  etc. 

The  building  24  designates  the  location  of  No.  1 Fire  En- 
gine and  the  Hook  and  Ladder  Companies. 

The  Common  Council  held  a meeting  on  the  evening  of  the 
12th  and  passed  appropriate  resolutions  of  thanks  to  the  fire 
department  for  their  efficient  services.  A public  meeting  was 
held  on  the  following  evening,  the  13th,  at  which  Mayor  Har- 
ral  presided.  A committee  composed  of  Alexander  Hamilton, 
Edwin  Porter,  Isaac  M.  Conklin,  Daniel  Thatcher,  Y.  D.  Ells- 
worth, Ira  B.  Wheeler,  Joseph  Cook  and  Eliakim  Hough  were 
appointed  to  inquire  into  the  condition  of  the  suffering  poor 


2s 


in  consequence  of  tlie  late  fire,  and  authorized  to  collect  and 
disburse  subscriptions  according  to  their  best  judgment,  to 
those  who  were  needy. 

[See  Farmer  1845;  Leader  July  1,  1882. 


SOUTH  VIEW  OF  CHURCHES  IN  BRIDGEPORT,  CONN.,  FROM  CORNER 
BROAD  AND  GILBERT  STREETS,  1835. 


Methodist.  St.  John’s 

First  Congregational.  Episcopal. 


Second 

Congregational. 


SKETCHES  OF  BRIDGEPORT  CHURCHES  IN  1835. 

The  foregoing  is  a representation  of  the  four  churches  in 
Bridgeport  as  they  appeared  in  1835,  all  standing  in  a direct 
line  on  Broad  street.  The  view  is  taken  from  near  the  south- 
west corner  of  Broad  and  Gilbert  streets.  The  early  settlers 
on  the  present  site  of  Bridgeport  attended  church  or  meeting 
for  a number  of  years  a mile  or  more  away  to  the  north-west 
on  North  avenue.  “ The  Church  of  Christ  in  Stratfield,”  (now 
the  First  Congregational)  was  organized  in  1695,  and  Was  lo- 
cated at  the  corner  of  Park  avenue  and  North  avenue.  The 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Stratfield  (St.  John’s),  organ- 


29 


ized  in  1748,  was  located  at  the  corner  of  North  avenue  and 
Church  street,  or  Wood  avenue  extension.  The  location  of 
each  was  central  at  the  time,  but  by  reason  of  the  more  rapid 
increase  of  the  population  of  the  Borough  of  Bridgeport — 
soon  after  the  commencement  of  this  century — they  ceased  to 
be  central.  The  Episcopal  Church  was  the  first  to  occupy  this 
ground,  which  they  did  in  1801,  erecting  the  building  shown 
in  the  cut  as  St.  John’s,  and  completing  it  so  far  as  to  perform 
services  therein  in  November  of  that  year.  It  was  not  fully 
seated  until  1804.  Isaac  Hinman  and  William  Peet  were  the 
acting  committee  in  building,  conducting  the  same  with  44  good 
prudence,  strict  economy  and  a degree  of  elegance  and  taste 
which  did  them  honor  and  adds  respectability  to  the  place.” 

The  cost  of  the  building  amounted  to  about  three  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars,  all  which  was  raised  by  voluntary  sub- 
scriptions. 

The  whole  committee  consisted  of : 

Capt.  David  Minot,  vice,  John  S.  Cannon  resigned. 

Isaac  Hinman,  Elijah  Burritt, 

William  Peet,  Ozias  Burr, 

Robert  Linus. 

In  1830  the  church  was  widened  six  feet  on  each  side,  the 
steeple  rebuilt,  the  front  improved,  and  the  whole  renovated 
and  repaired.  An  organ  was  also  purchased. 

In  June  1835,  under  the  rectorship  of 

Rev.  Gordon  S.  Coit, 

William  Peet  and  Isaac  Burroughs,  Wardens, 

the  plan  of  a new  church  was  presented,  and  a building  com- 
mittee appointed  consisting  of : — 

Phillip  A.  Cannon,  Esq.,  Isaac  Sherman,  Jr., 

Gen.  Enoch  Foote,  Charles  Bostwick, 

Stephen  Tomlinson. 

This  resulted  in  the  erection  in  1836  of  what  is  now  known 
as  the  old  St.  John’s  Church  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Can- 
non streets — the  former  edifice  having  been  sold  for  the  use 
of  the  Baptists. 


30 


The  following  names  appear  as  among  the  principal  contrib- 
utors to  the  improvement  of  the  then  old  church  in  1830: 


Phillip  A.  Cannon, 

William  Peet, 

Enoch  Foote, 

R.  Hyde  and  H.  Shelton, 
Edward  Rossiter, 

Henry  R.  Judah, 

Benjamin  Brooks, 

David  Minot, 

Tliaddeus  Hubbell, 

Jos.  Brooks  and  S.  Stratton, 
Isaac  Burroughs, 

Lewis  C.  Segee, 

Charles  T.  Nichols, 

Everit  Lewis, 

Philo  and  S.  F.  Hurd, 

Samuel  C.  Kirtland, 

Amos  Burr, 

George  W.  Smith, 

Isaac  Sherman,  Jr., 

Elias  Camp, 

David  Whiting, 

•Eli  Thompson, 

David  L.  Mills, 

Benjamin  S.  Smith, 

*William  A.  Peck, 

L-  M.  Hitchcock, 

Meigs  D.  Benjamin, 

Sylvester  May, 

Stephen  Lounsbury, 

Matthew  Curtis, 

Phillip  Walker, 

Of  the  foregoing,  only  three 
be  living  in  July,  1882. 


James  W.  Allen, 

Josiah  S.  Hayt, 

Ira  Curtis, 

Elijah  Burritt, 

Eli  Walker, 

Alfred  Cooke, 

Levi  Young, 

George  Smith, 

Abijah  Burroughs, 

Daniel  O.  Wheeler, 

Noah  Plumb, 

Mrs.  Sterling  Sherman, 

Samuel  Simons, 

William  H.  Peet, 

Stanley  Lockwood, 

Samuel  Sherwood, 

Jessup  Banks, 

Jesse  Brooks, 

Henry  Olmstead, 

Joseph  Thompson, 

*Henry  Allen, 

John  Burr, 

William  Sherman, 

Elias  Hodge, 

Munson  Seeley, 

Ozias  Burr, 

William  Wright, 

R.  G.  Yan  Polanan, 

Steven  Tomlinson, 

S.  B.  Ferguson, 

Roswell  S.  Nichols. 

marked  with  a * are  known  to  . 


31 


FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

The  change  of  location  naturally  came  harder  with  the 
Congregational  Church  than  with  the  Episcopal.  The  move 
ment  originated,  of  course,  in  the  Borough  as  called — was 
wholly  voluntary,  and  the  records  of  the  inception  do  not  ap- 
pear on  the  books  of  the  Society. 

The  building  shown  on  the  cut  as  the  First  Congregational 
Church  was  erected  and  inclosed  during  18*03.  In  June  11th, 
1804,  the  Society  voted  to  agree  to  hold  the  meetings  for  pub- 
lic worship  half  the  time  in  Bridgeport,  when  a house  suitable 
for  that  purpose  shall,  without  expense  to  the  Society,  be  so 
far  completed  as  to  accommodate  such  meetings.  Ayes,  32 ; 
nays,  19. 

This  resulted  in  dividing  the  time  equally  between  Stratfield 
and  Bridgeport. 

June  13th,  1808,  it  was  voted  that  a meeting  of  the  Society 
be  warned  to  beheld  at  the  new  meetinghouse  in  Bridgeport. 
The  meeting  was  warned  and  held  June  20th,  1808,  in  the 
new  meeting  house,  and  it  was  voted  to  hold  public  worship 
there  two- thirds  of  the  time. 


Soon  after  this  the  change  was  made  entire. 

The  following  names  appear  on  the  records  as  pew  holders 
at  this  period,  but  the  list  does  not  include  those  who  owned 
pews : 


Josiah  Lacey, 

Deacon  John  P.  Austin, 
William  DeForest, 
Lambert  Lockwood, 
Lewis  Sturges, 

Silas  Sherman, 

Ezra  Gregery, 

Thomas  Woodward, 
Simon  Backus, 

Benjamin  Wheeler, 
.Stephen  Burroughs,  Jr., 
Wilson  Hawley, 


Samuel  Hawley,  Jr., 
Elijah  Burr, 

Stephen  Hull, 

Abijah  Morehouse, 
William  Benedict, 
Widow  Mary  Sherman, 
Salmon  Hubbell, 
Robert  Southward, 
David  Sterling, 

Thomas  Gouge, 

Jesse  Seeley, 

Henry  May, 


32 


Abijah  Sherman,  Barzilla  Benjamin, 

Samuel  Wordin,  Anson  Beardsley, 

Levi  Silliman,  Samuel  Burr, 

In  1830  a division  occurred,  and  39  male  and  78  female  mem- 
bers were  dismissed  at  their  own  request,  to  form  the  second 
church  ; the  old  church  giving  them  one-half  of  the  church 
property  and  funds,  and  also  contributing  two  thousand  dol 
lars  toward  the  erection  of  a church  edifice.  The  erection  of 
a new  church  contiguous,  to  wit : the  Second  Congregational, 
as  shown  in  the  cut  at  the  head  of  this  article,  seems  to  have 
stimulated  improvements  in  the  others.  The  Episcopal 
Church  was  enlarged  and  improved,  as  has  been  related,  and 
the  First  Congregational  also  rebuilt  their  steeple  in  im- 
proved form,  and  reconstructed  pulpit  and  galleries. 

The  following  is  a nearly  complete  list  of  pew  holders  in 
the  First  Congregational  Church  in  1835.  Those  marked  with 
* are  the  only  survivors  in  1882  : 


Daniel  Thatcher, 

Legrand  Sterling, 

Alan  son  Hamlin, 

Levi  Wordin  and  four  others. 

Alexander  Hubbell, 

Alan  son  Caswell, 

Daniel  Sterling, 

Coley  E.  Betts, 

Hanford  Lyon, 

James  Betts, 

Thomas  C.  Wordin, 

Daniel  Curtis, 

Samuel  Niles, 

Henry  N.  French, 

Charles  B.  Hubbell, 

Gurdon  Hawley, 

Dr.  James  E.  Beach, 

Abijah  Beardsley, 

Silvanus  Sterling, 

Wyllys  Stillman, 

David  Sterling, 

Alexander  Black, 

Joel  Thorp, 

Nathaniel  Hummiston, 

Philo  C.  Wheeler, 

Cyrus  Botsford, 

John  M.  Thompson, 

Titus  C.  Mather, 

Daniel  Fayerweather, 

J oseph  Mott, 

Charles  Hawley, 

Isaac  M.  Conklin, 

*Gideon  Thompson, 

Capt.  E.  Wicks, 

Benjamin  Wheeler, 

David  Wheeler, 

Isaac  Sherman, 

David  Victory  Seeley, 

Nathaniel  Wade, 

Joseph  Knapp, 

83 


George  Wade, 

Ezra  Gregory, 
Joseph  P.  Sturges, 
Nichols  Beardsley, 
Lemuel  Coleman, 
William  R.  Bunnell, 
Thomas  Bartram, 
Ira  Peck, 

Joseph  C.  Lewis, 
David  Hubbell,  3rd 
*Anson  Hawley, 
David  Sherwood, 


Robert  Milne, 
Wheeler  French,  Jr. 
Judson  Bray, 
Sturges  & Smith, 
Isaac  E.  Beach, 
^Stephen  Nichols, 
George  Kippen, 
Samuel  Porter, 
Elijah  C.  Spinning, 
Samuel  Wordin, 
Louisa  Bartlett, 
Eleazer  Edgerton. 


OFFICERS. 

Rev.  John  Blatchford,  Pastor. 


DEACONS. 

Isaac  Sherman, 
David  Sherwood, 
Silvanus  Sterling. 


SOCIETY  COMMITTEE. 

Isaac  Sherman, 

Hanford  Lyon, 

Joseph  Mott, 


Daniel  Sterling,  Treasurer . 
*N.  S.  Wordin,  Clerk. 
Nathaniel  Wade,  Collector. 
Silvanus  Sterling,  Salesman. 


The  building  shown  in  the  cut  was  occupied  until  1850, 
when  it  gave  place  to  the  present  edifice.  It  was  purchased 
for  the  use  of  Christ  Church,  and  moved  upon  John  street,  at 
the  present  site  of  the  works  of  Nichols,  Peck  & Co.,  and  acci- 
dentally destroyed  by  fire  in  1851. 


SECOND  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

The  Second  Congregational  Church  was  organized  January 
28th,  1830,  and  elected  as  deacons,  William  DeForest,  Stephen 
Hawley  and  Josiah  B.  Baldwin,  who  held  the  same  office  in 
the  First  Church. 


34 


They  held  public  worship  temporarily  in  the  old  High 
School  House  on  State  street. 

Measures  were  at  once  taken  to  erect  a house  of  worship. 
The  lot  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Gilbert  streets  was  pur- 
chased, and  the  building  shown  on  the  cut  at  the  head  of  this 
article  erected  the  same  year  at  a cost  of  about  $5,000,  exclu- 
sive of  foundations  and  basement.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Hewitt 
was  installed  as  pastor  December  1st,  1830,  and  continued 
until  1853. 

The  following  is  a list  of  pew  holders  as  appears  on  record 
in  1835.  Those  marked  with  * are  survivors  in  1882  : 


Seth  B.  Jones, 

William  B.  Dyer, 

Burr  Knapp, 

Josiah  Hubbell, 

* Victory  Curtis, 

Joseph  Wood, 

Fitch  Wheeler, 

Jesse  Sterling, 

Charles  DeForest, 
*Munson  Hawley, 

Abijah  Hawley, 

David  Perry,  ' 

Stephen  Hawley, 

Edwin  B.  Gregory, 

R.  Thorborne. 

Roswell  Lewis, 

Mrs.  William  Burr, 
David  Hubbell, 

Elliot  Morris, 

Sherwood  Sterling, 
George  Sterling, 

Wilson  Hawley, 

William  DeForest, 
Lockward  DeForest, 
Bronson  Hawley, 
Charles  B.  Middlebrook, 
Edward  Burroughs, 
Harry  Judson, 


Josiah  B.  Baldwin, 
*Nichols  Northrop, 
Ransom  C.  Canfield, 
Benjamin  DeForest, 
Mrs.  Talman  Perry, 
Edwin  Porter, 

James  Robinson, 

E.  C.  Warren, 

Bradley  Gould, 

Samuel  Morse, 

John  Brooks,  Jr. 

James  Jennings, 

Nathan  Baldwin, 

Samuel  Peet, 

Josiah  S.  Fayerweather, 
Josiah  B.  Hall, 

William  B.  Nash, 
Charles  Sherman, 
George  Wheeler, 

Daniel  B.  Oviatt, 

D.  Mallory, 

Zenas  R.  Moody, 
Benjamin  Pilgrim, 
Nathan  Shepard, 

Capt.  E.  Doane, 

E.  D.  Bull, 

*John  Cogswell, 

William  Allis. 


35 


OFFICERS. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Hewitt,  D.  D.,  Pastor. 


society’s  committee. 

Edwin  Porter,  David  Hubbell,  Thomas  Hawley. 

Stephen  Hawley,  Treasurer. 

Charles  DeForest,  Clerk. 

William  DeForest,  Collector. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Hewitt  the  house  was  consider- 
ably enlarged.  It  was  occupied  until  1860-2,  when  it  gave 
place  to  the  present  brick  edifice — was  sold,  taken  down  and 
removed. 


*METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

Previous  to  1816,  in  Bridgeport  or  vicinity,  a week  evening, 
was  the  only  appointment  of  this  denomination.  In  this  year 
the  old  Stratfield  Congregational  meeting  house  (at  corner  6f 
North  avenue  and  Park  avenue)  was  purchased  for  their  use. 
The  Rev.  Benoni  English  and  Rev.  Elihu  P.  Jacobs,  not  mem- 
bers of  the  conference — preached  there  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
for  the  first  time  Bridgeport  appears  on  the  conference  min- 
utes. This  was  the  church  home  of  the  denomination  for 
about  six  years.  Probably  in  the  winter  of  1821-2  an  upper 
room  was  procured  for  holding  Methodist  meetings  in  the 
burough,  in  what  was  then  called  new  block  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  State  streets,  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Ruggles,  who  was  a convert  under  the  labors  of 
Rev.  Benoni  English  at  the  old  Stratfield  church.  The  first 
organization  according  to  law  as  an  ecclesiastical  body  was 
effected  June  30th,  1821.  In  1822  Rev.  John  Newland  Maffit, 
the  Revivalist,  spent  a portion  of  the  year  in  this  place  and 
regular  preaching  in  the  old  church  was  soon  after  discon- 
tinued. In  this  year  measures  were  taken  for  the  erection  of 


* Compiled  from  Memoranda  preserved  by  Mayor  W.  B.  Hiucks. 


36 


their  first  house  of  worship  in  this  city.  The  principal  mem- 
bers as  stated  in  the  warrant  for  the  first  meeting  appear  to 
have  been  Nathaniel  Buggies,  Burr  Penfield,  Agur  Bassett, 
Bichard  Fuller  and  Stephen  Durand.  At  this  meeting  Stiles 
Nichols  was  chairman,  N.  Buggies  clerk,  and  Agur  Bassett, 
John  P.  McEwen  and  Bichard  Fuller,  were  elected  trustees. 
The  site  of  the  house  was  fixed  at  a meeting  held  May  13th, 
1823,  and  the  house  though  remaining  unfinished  for  some 
years  was  occupied  for  worship  the  latter  part  of  1823,  Mr. 
Maffit  preaching  the  first  sermon  in  it.  This  building  appears 
without  steeple  or  tower  in  the  cut  at  the  head  of  this  article. 
It  was  40x60  in  dimensions  and  cost  with  the  lot  about  $3,000. 
It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1849. 

The  Bridgeport  station  was  organized  and  manned  in  1835-6 
as  follows  : 

Bev.  William  Jewett,  Presiding  Elder. 

Bev.  Charles  F.  Pelton,  Station  Preacher. 

Samuel  Bassett,  L,ocal  Preacher. 

Nathaniel  Buggies,  Local  Preacher. 

W.  H.  Dikeman,  Local  Deacon. 


Charles  G.  Briscoe, 
*Fenelon  Hubbell, 


STEWARDS. 

Wakeman  H.  Dikeman, 
Christopher  Moore, 
John  Plumb. 


Daniel  Benedict, 
Fenelon  Hubbell, 


LEADERS. 

Charles  G.  Briscoe, 
Edmund  Fan  ton, 
John  Badcliff. 


The  following  are  names  of  other  male  members  at  this 
period  : 

John  Hall,  Joseph  Polly, 

Stiles  Nichols,  Seth  Hall, 

James  Penfield  Samuel  Wilcoxon, 

Silas  Turney,  Beuben  Bogers, 


37 


William  L.  Peet, 
David  Lockwood, 
Charles  H.  Wakelee, 
Charles  Lewis, 

Aaron  K.  Morris, 
Israel  W.  Blackman, 
George  Robbins, 
Anson  Lockwood, 

Ira  Barnum, 

Bronson  Patchen, 
Philo  Johnson, 
Benjamin  Stillman, 
John  Atkinson, 

John  M.  Middlebrook, 
Thomas  T.  Benedict, 
Solomon  Sturdevant, 
John  Treadwell, 

Abel  Beers, 

George  Porter, 


George  Watkins, 
Harmon  Gray, 

John  Parrott, 

Elias  Johnson, 
Nathan  Peck, 
Benjamin  F.  Payne, 
Elias  A.  Hall, 
Stephen  Handford, 
William  Hayes, 

Allen  Renode, 
Samuel  D.  Platt, 
Robert  W.  Lewis, 
Charles  Delivan, 
William  Bower, 
George  Davis, 

Henry  Goodwin, 
William  J.  Stoddard, 
George  Kershaw, 
Thomas  H.  Brooks, 


BAPTIST  CHURCH. 


In  1835  the  known  and  recognized  Baptist  element  within 
the  limits  of  the  city  of  Bridgeport  was  confined  to  two 
females,  Miss  Hannah  Nichols  and  Mrs.  Lydia  Sherwood. 
The  Stratfield  Baptist  church,  an  off-shoot  from  the  original 
“Church  of  Christ  in  Stratfield”  was  organized  in  1751,  main- 
ly under  the  leadership  of  Capt.  John  Sherwood,  grandfather 
of  the  late  Deacon  f)avid  Sherwood. 

Its  location  was  northwest  from  the  present  city,  nearly 
three  miles  away.  It  took  fast  root  in  that  vicinity  in  Fair- 
field  Woods,  Chestnut  Hill,  and  as  population  sought  the  in- 
terior, extended  to  North  Fairfield,  now  Easton;  and  to  the 
southwesterly  part  of  Monroe.  It  had  its  two  meeting  houses 
known  as  the  Stratfield  and  the  North — which  latter  was  loca- 
ted about  one-half  mile  westerly  of  the  Stepney  Depot.  In 
1S36  the  three  Whitney  brothers  who  were  members  of  the 
Stratfield  church,  resided  on  Clinton  avenue,  just  north  of 


38 


Fairfield  avenue,  and  conducted  a foundry  business  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Clinton  and  Fairfield  avenues.  Rev. 
James  H.  Linsley  was  at  this  time  pastor  of  the  Stratfield 
church,  and  yet  resided  in  Stratford  ^village.  The  Messrs. 
Whitney  and  their  pastor  had  frequent  consultations  together 
and  with  Miss  ^Hannah  "Nichols*!  upon  the  practicability  of 
establishing  a Baptist  church  in  Bridgeport.  The  opportune 
time  came  when  in  1835  the  St.  John’s  Episcopal  church 
offered  their  edifice  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  State  streets 
for  sale.  Mr.  Linsley  lost  no  time  in  collecting  the  necessary 
funds ; himself  the  leading  contributor.  The  price  of  the 
property  was  $3,650 — $3,000  was  collected  and  paid  over  to 
St.  John's  Society  and  the  deed  passed  August  8th,  1835. 

The  First  Baptist  Society  was  organized  July  24th,  1835, 
composed  of  six  members,  viz : Benjamin  Wakeman,  Raymond 
Whitney,  Roswell  Whitney,  Bennett  Whitney,  and  two  other 
persons,  names  not  known. 

The  church  was  constituted  September  20th,  1837,  with 
thirty-seven  members ; eleven  males  and  twenty-eight  females. 
The  following  is  a list  of  the  male  members.  Those  marked 
* are  living  in  1882  : 


Rev.  James  H.  Linsley, 
Elijah  Burton, 

Stephen  Silliman, 
Raymond  Whitney, 
*Roswell  Whitney, 


*Bennet  Whitney, 
^Horace  Lyon, 

*Zenas  Whitney, 
Samuel  Hammar, 
Augustus  M.  Gregory, 


Ferdinand  M.  Gregory. 


The  building  indicated  in  the  cut  as  St.  Johns’  church  was 
occupied  by  them  substantially  as  it  there  appears  from  1837 
until  1858,  when  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  J.  L.  Hodge, 
D.  D.,  it  gave  place  to  the  present  substantial  brick  edifice. 


Note. — The  object  of  the  foregoing  sketch  has  been  to  show  by  the 
cut,  the  location  and  appearance  of  the  Churches  of  Bridgeport  at  the 
period  indicated,  (1835)  to  explain  the  leading  points  of  their  previous 
history  and  to  fix  the  organization  and  personnel  of  each,  at  that  time. 
Taken  together  the  families  of  the  then  Borough  are  very  fully  repre- 
sented therein. 


v. 


Return  this  book  on  or 
Latest  Date  stamped 


before  the 
below. 


University  of  Illinois  Library 


) 


7A9 

THE 

FAIRFIELD  COUNTY 


Historical  Son  tty. 

• 3V  j- 


ACT  OF  INCORPORATION, 

BI-LAWSf 

LIST  OF  MEMBERS, 


Fourth  Anniversary  Meeting, 

April  10th,  1885, 

Etc.,  Etc. 


BRIDGEPORT ; 

THE  STANDARD  ASSOCIATION,  PRINTERS. 

1885. 


FORM  OF  APPLICATION  FOR  MEMBER- 
SHIP. 


To  the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society, 
Gentlemen : 

The  undersigned  hereby  makes  applica= 

tion  for  admission  as  * Member  of 

said  Association,  under  its.  existing  (Rules  and 
(By = Laws. 

(Bated  at  (Bridgeport,  this day  of 

188 . . 

Signed, 

*Blank  to  be  filled  with  - an  Annual,  a Patron,  or  a Life  Member, — as  the  case  may  be. 

By  transfer 

NOV  8 19 IS 


$ Ofa 

Vf\ 

\^%S 

THE  FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HISTORICAL 
SOCIETY. 


PRESIDENT, 

ROWLAND  B.  LACEY. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS, 

GEORGE  C.  WALDO, 
WILLIAM  A.  BEERS, 

REV.  SAMUEL  ORCUTT, 


Bridgeport. 

Fairfield. 

Bridgeport. 


RECORDING  SECRETARY, 

NATHANIEL  E.  WORDIN,  M.  D. 

CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY, 

LOUIS  N.  MIDDLEBROOK. 


TREASURER  AND  CURATOR, 

RICHARD  C.  AMBLER. 


HISTORIAN, 

GEORGE  C.  WALDO. 


ORIGINAL  ARTICLES  OF  ASSOCIATION. 


We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  to  wit : Row- 
land B.  Lacey,  William  H.  Noble,  AVilliam  B.  Hincks,  Nathan- 
iel E.  Wordin,  George  C.  Waldo  and  Louis  N.  Middlebrook, 
all  of  Bridgeport,  Fairfield  County,  State  of  Connecticut,  do 
hereby  form  a Voluntary  Association,  under  the  laws  of  said 
State,  for  the  promotion  and  encouragement  of  Historical, 
Antiquarian  and  Genealogical  Investigation  relating  to  said 
County  and  the  Towns  composing  it ; the  same  to  consist  of 
the  undersigned  as  present  members  thereof,  together  with 
such  others  as  may  be  chosen  by  a unanimous  vote  of  such 
meetings  of  said  Association  as  may  be  hereafter  held  for  that 
purpose ; we,  the  subscribers,  and  our  associates  and  succes- 
sors, forever  to  be  known  as  The  Fairfield  County  Historical 
Society,  and  to  be  governed  by  such  officers,  rules  and  by- 
laws as  may  from  time  to  time  be  established  by  said  Associa- 
tion. 

Subscribed  by  us  at  said  Bridgeport,  this  February  4tli, 
A.  D.  1881. 

ROWLAND  B.  LACEY,  GEORGE  C.  WALDO, 
NATHANIEL  E.  WORDIN,  WILLIAM  B.  HINCKS, 
WILLIAM  H.  NOBLE,  LOUIS  N.  MIDDLEBROOK. 

Under  the  above  Articles  of  Association  the  Society  was 
formed,  and  continued  down  to  the  date  of  the  following  Act 
of  Incorporation. 


INCORPORATING  THE  FAIRFIELD  COUNTY 
HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


Resolved  by  this  Assembly: 

Section  1.  That  Rowland  B.  Lacey,  George  C.  Waldo, 
William  A.  Beers,  Samuel  Orcutt,  Richard  C.  Ambler,  Na- 
thaniel E.  Wordin,  L.  N.  Middlebrook,  William  B.  Hincks, 
and  Curtis  Thompson,  all  of  Fairfield  County,  present  officers 
and  members  of  The  Fairfield  County  Plistorical  Society,  a 
voluntary  association  located  at  Bridgeport,  in  said  county, 
together  with  such  other  persons  as  are  now  or  may  hereafter 
be  associated  with  them,  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  with  their 
successors,  constituted  a body  politic  and  corporate  by  the 
name  of  The  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society,  for  the  pro- 
motion and  encouragement  of  historical,  antiquarian  and 
genealogical  investigation  relating  to  said  county  and  the 
towns  composing  it,  and  for  the  preservation  and  publication 
of  the  same,  and  with  power  to  purchase,  receive,  hold  and 
convey  real  and  personal  estate  to  an  amount  not  exceeding 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  which,  together  with  the  income  there- 
of, used  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  shall  be  exempt  from 
taxation  ; that  said  corporation  may  have  a common  seal,  and 
may  establish  such  rules  and  by-laws  not  contrary  to  this 
charter  or  the  laws  of  this  State  or  of  the  United  States,  as 
it  may  from  time  to  time  deem  necessary,  relating  to  all  mat- 
ters connected  with  the  objects,  membership  and  govern- 
ment of  said  corporation. 

Sec.  2.  Said  corporation  shall  meet  once  in  each  year  for 
the  election  of  a president,  secretary,  treasurer  and  such 
other  officers  as  may  be  designated  from  time  to  time  by  the 
rules  and  by-laws  of  said  corporation;  provided,  however , 
that  in  case  of  a failure  to  hold  such  annual  meeting,  or  elect 
its  officers,  said  corporation  shall  not  thereby  be  dissolved ; 


6 


but  the  officers  of  said  corporation  shall  continue  to  exercise 
the  powers  and  duties  of  their  several  offices  until  others 
shall  be  duly  appointed  in  their  stead. 

Sec.  3.  The  present  by-laws  and  rules  of  said  voluntary 
association,  and  the  officers  thereof,  shall  remain  the  by-laws, 
rules  and  officers  of  said  corportion  until  others  are  adopted 
and  appointed  in  their  stead. 

Sec.  4.  The  first  annual  meeting  of  said  corporation  shall 
be  held  in  the  Mayor’s  office  in  the  City  of  Bridgeport,  at 
such  time  as  shall  be  designated  by  Rowland  B.  Lacey,  the 
president  of  said  voluntary  association,  one  week’s  notice  of 
the  time,  place  and  objects  thereof  being  previously  given  by 
him  in  one  or  more  newspapers  printed  in  said  Bridgeport. 

Sec.  5.  This  resolution  may  be  amended  or  repealed  at 
the  pleasure  of  the  general  assembly. 

Approved,  March  24,  1885. 


BY-LAWS. 


RULE  I. 

The  officers  of  The  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society  shall 
consist  of  a President,  three  Vice-Presidents,  Treasurer,  Re- 
cording Secretary  and  Corresponding  Secretary,  who  shall 
be  chosen  annually  from  its  members  by  a majority  ballot  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society. 

The  term  of  the  officers  of  said  Society  shall  be  for  one  year 
from  their  election,  and  until  others  shall  be  chosen  in  their 
places  ; and  their  powers  and  duties  shall  be  those  usually 
appertaining  to  those  offices,  except  when  otherwise  ordered 
by  the  Society. 

Said  officers  shall  also  be  the  Executive  Committee  of  said 
Society,  and  as  such  shall  have  charge  of  and  direct  all  mat- 
ters of  executive,  financial  and  clerical  business  appertaining 
to  the  management  of  the  Society,  except  when  otherwise 
ordered  by  the  Society. 

The  President  of  this  Society  shall  be,  ex-officio , Chairman 
of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Any  vacancy  occurring  in  any  of  said  offices  before  the  ex- 
piration of  its  term,  may  be  filled  for  the  unexpired  portion 
thereof,  by  those  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  said  Society, 
who  shall  be  in  the  exercise  of  their  offices  at  the  time. 

RULE  II. 

The  regular  meetings  of  said  Society  shall  be  held  on  the 
second  Friday  evening  of  each  month  at  the  rooms  of  the 
Society. 

The  annual  meeting  of  said  Society  shall  be  held  on  the 
second  Friday  of  April  in  each  year,  and  special  meetings 
may  be  held  whenever  the  Society  shall  so  order,  or  when- 
ever the  President  and  Recording  Secretary  shall  deem  it 


8 


necessary  to  call  tlie  same.  Notice  of  the  annual  and  special 
meetings  shall  be  given  by  the  President  and  Recording- 
Secretary  of  the  time,  place  and  purpose  thereof,  by  three 
days  publication  in  one  or  more  daily  newspapers,  published 
in  the  City  of  Bridgeport,  at  least  four  days  before  said  meet- 
ing. 

RULE  III. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  shall  be  the 
Auditor  of  the  Accounts  of  the  Society,  and  as  such  shall 
audit  and  approve  all  bills  of  expenses  incurred  by  the  So- 
ciety before  the  same  shall  be  ordered  paid,  and  only  upon 
such  audit,  and  an  order  of  payment  by  the  Society  or  Exe- 
cutive Committee,  shall  the  Treasurer  pay  out  any  funds  of 
the  Society. 

RULE  IV. 

The  Treasurer  of  the  Society  shall  be  also  Curator  of  the 
same  so  long  as  he  shall  be  Treasurer  ; and  the  duties  of  the 
office  of  Curator  shall  be,  to  have  the  care,  custody  and  pres- 
ervation of  books,  papers,  antiquities,  and  all  other  property 
of  the  Society. 

RULE  Y. 

The  election  of  new  members  of  said  Society  shall  be  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  by  ballot  or  otherwise,  at  any  annual,  regular 
or  special  meeting  of  the  Society ; the  nomination  of  such 
new  members  having  first  been  made  at  a preceding  meet- 
ing and  not  less  than  one  week  previous  to  such  voting. 

RULE  YI. 

No  application  for  membership  of  said  Society  shall  be  en- 
tertained or  acted  upon,  unless  accompanied  by  a written  or 
printed  request  of  the  applicant,  dated  and  signed  by  the 
applicant  in  person. 

RULE  VII. 

An  initiation  fee  of  two  dollars  shall  accompany  each  appli- 
cation for  annual  membership. 


9 


RULE  VIII. 

A due  of  two  dollars  shall  be  laid  upon  each  annual  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  living  in  Bridgeport,  Stratford,  Trumbull 
and  Fairfield,  and  one  dollar  for  all  the  others.  This  amount 
shall  be  paid  to  the  Treasurer  annually,  during  the  month 
of  July,  unless  excused  by  the  Society. 

Any  member  remaining  in  arrears  for  dues  may  be  dropped 
from  membership  by  a majority  vote  of  the  members  present 
at  any  regular  meeting  of  the  Society. 

RULE  IX. 

Any  approved  person  may,  upon  election  according  to 
Rule  Y,  become  a Life  Member  on  the  payment  of  two  hun- 
dred dollars,  or  a Patron  Member  for  five  years  on  the  pay- 
ment of  twenty-five  dollars,  and  both  Life  and  Patron  Mem- 
bers shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  the  Society. 
The  Society  may  elect,  according  to  the  manner  provided  in 
Rule  Y,  as  Honorary  Members,  persons  whose  membership 
may  be  an  honor  or  advantage  to  said  Society,  and  they  shall 
be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  the  Society  except  voting. 

All  members  other  than  Life,  Patron  and  Honorary  shall 
be  known  and  designated  as  Annual  Members. 

RULE  X. 

i 

These  Rules  and  By-Laws  may  be  altered,  amended,  re- 
pealed or  added  to,  by  a major  vote  of  the  members  present 
at  an}r  annual,  regular  or  special  meeting  of  said  Society, 
notice  of  such  proposed  repeal,  alteration  or  amendment  hav- 
ing been  given  at  a previous  meeting  of  the  Society,  not  less 
than  one  wTeek  before  final  action  thereon  is  taken. 

RULE  XI. 

The  Rules  of  this  Society  may  be  temporarily  suspended  by 
unanimous  consent  of  all  the  members  present  at  any  regu- 
lar, annual  or  special  meeting  of  the  Society. 


MEMBERS 


OF  THE 

FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


Howland  B.  Lacey,  Bridgeport, . . 

Nathaniel  E.  Wordin,  M.  D.  Bridgepor 
William  H.  Noble,  Bridgeport,  . . 

George  C.  Waldo,  Bridgeport,  . . 

William  B.  Hincks,  Bridgeport,.  . 
Louis  N.  Middlebrook,  Bridgeport, 

* Aaron  B.  Hull,  Danbury,  . . . 

Joseph  N.  Ireland,  Bridgeport,  . . 

Bichard  C.  Ambler,  Bridgeport, 
William  T.  Minor,  Stamford,.  . . 

Lemuel  Sanford,  Bedding,  . . . 

James  L.  Gould,  Bridgeport, 

James  W.  Beardsley,  Bridgeport  . 
*Henry  M.  Hoyt,  Bridgeport,  . . 

Charles  Burr  Todd,  Bedding,  . . 

Henry  G.  Scofield,  Bridgeport,  . . 

James  Byder,  Danbury,  .... 
Elias  S.  Hawley,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Curtis  Thompson,  Bridgeport,  . . 

William  A.  Beers,  Fairfield,  . . . 

Eaton  W.  Maxcy,  D.  D.  Bridgeport, 
*William  Shelton,  D.  D.  Buffalo,  N.  Y 
Bev.  George  S.  Burroughs,  N.  Britain 
A.  Homer  Byington,  Norwalk,  . . 

Winthrop  H.  Perry,  Norwalk,  . . 

Walter  Hubbell,  New  York  City,  . 
David  B.  Lockwood,  Bridgeport,  . 


. Original  Member. 

n n 

ll  li 

a a 


u a 

t 

a a 

Elected  Feb.  18,  1881. 

((  a u a 

a a a a 

“ Mar.  “ “ 

U ll  ll  li 

u a n a 

u u u ll 

a ii  a ki 

a n a a 

“ May  6,  “ 

a ii  a n 

“ June  3,  “ 

“ Aug.  5,  “ 

« Sept.  2,  “ 

a n ii  a 

u a a n 

“ Oct.  14,  « 

“ Nov.  11,  “ 

u ii  ii  a 

a a u .i 

“ Feb.  10,  « 


^Deceased. 


11 


*Stiles  M.  Middlebrook,  Bridgeport, 
Frederick  Bronson,  Greenfield  Hill, 
O.  P.  Dexter,  New  York  City,  . 
David  H.  Miller,  Georgetown,  . 
Horace  L.  Faircliild,  Trumbull,  . 
Samuel  M.  Main,  New  York  City, 
Nathan  M.  Belden,  Wilton,  . . 

*Barzillai  B.  Kellogg,  Brookfield, 

J.  M.  Bailey,  Danbury,  . . . 

John  W.  Bacon,  Danbury,  . . 

John  D.  Candee,  Bridgeport, 

John  L.  Morehouse,  Fairfield,  . 
Warren  B.  Nichols,  West  Stratford, 
Samuel  Garlick,  M.  D.  Bridgeport. 
Eugene  Morehouse,  Stratford,  . 
William  S.  Bouton,  S.  Norwalk, 
Plumb  N.  Fairchild,  Trumbull,  . 
Morris  B.  Beardsley,  Bridgeport, 
Thomas  Calef,  Bridgeport,  . . 

*Eli  T.  Hoyt,  Danbury,  . . . 

Oliver  B.  Jennings,  Fairfield, 
Frederick  S.  Wildman,  Danbury, 
Rev.  Samuel  Orcutt,  Bridgeport, 
Thomas  B.  Fairchild,  Stratford, 
Edward  F.  Meeker,  Bridgeport, 
William  L.  Sherwood,  Newark,  N 
Rev.  G.  H.  Nichols,  Hoosic  Falls,  N 
Phineas  T.  Barnum,  Bridgeport, 
Robert  W.  Curtis,  Stratford, . . 

Nathaniel  Wheeler,  Bridgeport,  . 
Arthur  E.  Meaker,  Bethlehem,  Pa 
Nathan  B.  Wells,  Stratford,  . . 

Albert  S.  Comstock,  New  Canaan, 
Samuel  L.  Carter,  New  York  City 
Amos  S.  Treat,  Bridgeport,  . . 

Silas  Burton,  Bridgeport,  . . . 

Ebenezer  S.  Phillips,  Bridgeport, 


Elected  Mar.  10,  1882. 


April  21, 


May  12, 
Sept.  8, 
Jan.  12, 
Mar.  9, 


a 

1883. 


“ April  5, 
“ June  9, 

u u a 

“ Feb.  8, 
“ May  9, 
“ July  11, 
“ Sept.  12, 
“ Feb.  13, 


“ Mar.  “ 
“ April  10, 


U u u 

u u u 

“ June  26, 
“ July  10, 


Aug.  14, 


u 

1884. 

u 

a 

u 

1885. 


<c 

1885. 


•Deceased. 


HONORARY  MEMBERS. 


REV.  BENJAMIN  L.  SWAN, 
Mendham,  N.  J. 

REV.  E.  E.  BEARDSLEY,  D.  D., 
New  Haven,  Ct. 

J.  HAMMOND  TRUMBULL,  LL.D., 
Hartford,  Ct. 

CHARLES  J.  IIOADLEY, 
Hartford,  Ct. 

REY.  HORATIO  N.  POWERS,  D.  D., 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 


ABRAHAM  W.  MOREHOUSE, 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 


FOURTH  ANNIVERSARY  MEETING. 


The  fourth  annual  meeting  of  the  Fairfield  County  Histori- 
cal Society,  the  first  under  the  new  charter,  was  liolden  at 
the  Mayor’s  office,  Wheeler  Building,  Main  street,  April  10, 
1885,  the  President  of  the  Society,  It.  B.  Lacey,  Esq.,  in  the 
Chair.  A large  number  were  present  including  a goodly  pro- 
portion of  members  from  out  of  town.  The  meeting  was 
called  to  order  shortly  after  eight  o’clock,  and  the  following 
call  under  the  new  act  of  incorporation  was  read : 

*“THE  FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  undersigned,  duly  authorized  by  Special  Act  of  the 
General  Assembly,  at  its  present  session,  incorporating  The 
Fairfield  County  Historical  Society,  hereby  gives  notice  that 
the  first  Annual  Meeting  of  said  Society  for  the  election  of 
officers  under  the  provisions  of  said  Act,  will  be  held  at  the 
Mayor’s  office,  in  the  City  of  Bridgeport,  on  Friday  evening, 
April  10th,  1885,  at  7 o’clock.  Also  to  do  any  other  business 
that  may  properly  come  before  said  meeting. 

This  meeting  will  be  in  the  place  of  the  usual  Annual  Meet- 
ting,  and  will  receive  the  annual  reports  of  the  officers  of  the 
Society,  and  will  also  be  favored  with  interesting  papers  and 
addresses.” 

ROWLAND  B.  LACEY,  President. 

Bridgeport,  April  1st,  1885. 


The  President  then  delivered  the  following  address : 
PRESIDENT’S  ADDRESS. 

Friends  and  Members  of  The  Fairfield  County  Historical 
Society : 

We  are  met  this  evening  on  the  occasion  of  the  fourth  an- 
niversary of  the  organization  of  this  Society.  The  year  past 
has  been  marked  with  points  of  special  progress.  The  secre- 

*Published  in  tlie  Daily  and  Weekly  Standard. 


14 


taries  and  other  officers  will  take  these  up,  and  treat  them 
properly,  under  their  several  heads.  There  are  two  or  three 
only  to  which  I propose  to  allude. 

First,  The  actual  commencement  and  considerable  progress 
upon  the  History  of  Old  Stratford  and  Bridgeport,  by  Kev. 
Samuel  Orcutt,  under  the  auspices  of  this  Society.  One  num- 
ber of  one  hundred  and  eighty  pages  has  been  published  and 
has  been  received  with  much  favor  for  its  evident  thorough- 
ness and  impartiality.  The  Society  has  been  favored  at  its 
monthly  meetings  with  scraps  from  Mr.  Orcutt’s  further 
labors  and  research,  which  give  promise  of  a faithful  and  in- 
teresting history.  More  and  more  interest  is  elicited  in 
regard  to  local  and  family  history  and  geneologies.  The  old 
family  relics — rare  and  ancient  books,  and  newspapers  are 
brought  out.  We  have  the  basis  and  could  easily  gather  a 
collection  of  great  interest  and  value,  had  the  Society  a suit- 
able place  for  their  exhibition  and  safe-keeping.  For  the  pres- 
ent we  are  kindly  offered  space  for  valuables  of  small  bulk 
in  bank  safes.  But  for  the  proper  developement  and  useful- 
ness of  the  Society  we  need  a building — fire-proof — at  least  a 
portion  of  it.  In  our  growing  community  there  are  kindred 
uses,  which  together  with  the  Historical  Society,  would 
worthily  occupy  a neat  fire-proof  structure  in  a central  posi- 
tion, and  we  hope  and  pray  that  some  citizen  or  friend,  of 
ample  means  may  be  moved  to  erect  for  himself  or  herself 
such  a building,  as  the  very  best  kind  of  a monument — a 
monument  that  shall  not  only  keep  the  memory  fresh  and 
green,  but  shall  be  a centre  from  which  shall  radiate  most 
benign  influences,  reaching  back  and  gathering  up  treasures 
from  the  past,  for  the  pleasure  and  profit  of  the  present  and 
future  generations. 

Second,  For  the  purpose  of  placing  the  Society  in  position 
for  its  highest  usefulness  in  just  these  lines,  we  have  sought 
and  procured  from  the  General  Assembly  now  in  session,  an 
Act  of  Incorporation,  “ with  power  to  purchase,  receive,  hold 
and  convey  real  and  personal  estate  to  an  amount  not  exceed- 
ing fifty  thousand  dollars,  which  together  with  the  income 
thereof,  used  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  shall  be  exempt  from 


15 


taxation,  &c.”  It  is  expected  that  we  elect  officers  and 
organize  anew  under  this  act  this  evening,  and  anew  fling- 
ing our  banner  to  the  breeze  we  desire  not  only  to  rally  and 
stimulate  the  old  corps,  but  invite  enthusiastic  recruits,  to 
prosecute  the  good  work  in  which  we  are  engaged  with  new 
vigor. 

Third,  The  fact  has  been  emphasized  in  our  labors  and 
researches,  that  the  ancient  records  of  the  original  towns, 
also  ancient  church  and  parish  records  are  fast  going  to 
decay.  This  could  be  illustrated  most  amply  and  forcibly  did 
time  permit.  The  value  and  importance  of  these  early  rec- 
ords is  conceded  and  need  not  be  argued.  Immediate  effort 
is  demanded  to  have  them  reproduced,  preserved  and  made 
easily  accessible  to  all.  Individual  interest  where  it  exists, 
is  apt  to  be  fitful  and  uncertain  for  the  purpose.  The  towns 
neglect  these  old  records.  Nor  can  the  present  original 
towns,  though  bearing  the  ancient  name,  and  the  custodians 
of  the  early  records,  retaining  as  they  do  only  a tythe  of  their 
ancient  limits,  be  expected  to  bear  the  entire  expense  re- 
quired. The  real  interest  in  them  is  wider.  Wide  as  the 
State  and  the  State’s  representatives  throughout  the  whole 
country.  The  State  has  promoted  the  publication  of  the  so- 
called  “ Colonial  Records  ” found  at  Hartford  and  New  Haven. 
These  embrace  much  that  was  sent  up  to  Hartford  from 
Stratford  and  Fairfield,  for  instance,  of  no  more  value  to  the 
public  at  large,  than  very  much  or  all  of  the  early  records  of 
those  towns  up  to  1700.  The  State  thus  is  the  party  largely 
in  interest  and  State  aid  should  be  afforded  for  the  purpose  in 
question,  extending  to  all  such  old  towns  as  Stratford,  Fair- 
field,  Stamford,  etc.  Their  position  in  their  earliest  settle- 
ment was  isolated  and  peculiar — arising  from  their  great  dis- 
tance from  the  central  court,  and  the  great  difficulty  of  com- 
munication. The  general  court  appointed  magistrates  in 
special  manner  for  these  towns.  Ludlow  and  others  exer- 
cised large  powers,  giving  the  settlements  the  position  of 
separate  plantations.  Holding  these  sentiments  and  trusting 
that  they  could  be  duly  impressed  upon,  the  minds  of  our 
legislators  at  Hartford,  we  petitioned  the  General  Assembly 


16 


now  in  session  for  an  appropriation  of  the  sum  of  $2,000,  to 
be  expended  by  the  Society  for  the  aforementioned  objects 
under  the  direction  of  Hon.  C.  J.  Iioadley,  the  State  Libra- 
rian. 

We  regret  that  our  efforts  before  the  committee  on  the 
judiciary,  to  whom  our  petition  was  referred,  failed.  It  may 
be  pursued  further  this  year  by  our  efficient  representatives. 
Should  the  effort  be  altogether  unsuccessful  we  propose  to 
renew  it — we  hope  successfully,  in  the  near  future. 


REPORT  OF  THE  RECORDING  SECRETARY. 

The  report  of  the  Recording  Secretary,  Dr.  N.  E.  Wordin, 
was  then  read.  The  Secretary  stated  among  other  facts,  that 
the  Society  numbers  twenty-seven  members  in  Bridgeport, 
and  thirty-nine  members  in  the  county  outside,  making  sixty- 
six  in  all.*  During  the  past  year  one  member,  Major  Hoyt, 
had  died ; there  had  been  eleven  regular  meetings  and  one 
special  meeting,  and  the  work  of  the  Society  had  been  much 
advanced.  The  Secretary  also  gave  some  valuable  hints  as  to 
the  future. 


REPORT  OF  THE  CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY. 

The  Corresponding  Secretary,  Major  L.  N.  Middlebrook,  re- 
ported a large  amount  of  correspondence  and  an  increasing 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  Society  by  members  and  others 
scattered  over  the  entire  country. 


REPORT  OF  THE  TREASURER  AND  CURATOR. 

The  Treasurer  and  Curator,  R.  C.  Ambler,  Esq.,  reported  a 
very  satifactory  condition  of  the  finances,  library  and  muse- 
um, and  the  reports  were  accepted  for  record. 

*A  number  of  these  have  been  dropped  from  the  list  by  action  of  the  Society, 
under  Rule  VIII. 


17 


SOME  DUTCH  TROUBLES  IN  EARLY  CONNEC- 
TICUT. 


READ  BEFORE  THE  FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  AT 
THEIR  FOURTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  APRIL  IOtH,  1885. 


By  the  Author,  William  A.  Beers. 


Perhaps  no  phase  of  national  significance  has  so  slight 
foundation  for  literal  application  as  the  familiar  one,  “ Dutch 
Courage”;  yet  even  up  to  our  present  epoch  of  historical 
research  the  notion  is  quite  general  that  the  courage  of  a 
Dutchman  is  mostly  the  outcome  of  schiedam  schnapps,  beer, 
or  other  stimulant  of  a pot  valor  nature. 

Motley  did  much  to  explode  this  fallacy  when  he  told  the 
world  of  the  greatness  of  the  ancient  Dutch  Republic  with  its 
three  thousand  ships,  and  its  one  hundred  thousand  sailors, 
whose  sober,  daring  and  successful  enterprise  excited  the 
wonder  of  the  Eastern  Hemisphere. 

No  Connecticut  man,  therefore,  however  loyal,  need  abate 
one  jot  of  his  pride  of  ancestry  when  reminded  that  the 
original  ( i . e .,  after  the  aboriginal)  settlers  of  his  country 
were  Dutchmen,  and  that  his  forefathers  found,  not  only  a 
vigorous  opponent  to  English  civilization,  but  a foeman 
worthy  of  his  steel  in  the  lusty  Hollander  of  nearly  three 
centuries  ago. 

Nor  was  the  typical  “ New  Amsterdammer  ” precisely  the 
sort  of  person  whom  the  genius  of  Irving  led  him  to  de- 
scribe as  “ a man  exactly  five  feet  six  inches  in  height  and  six 
feet  five  inches  in  circumference,  who  ate,  drank  and  smoked 
twelve  hours  and  slept  the  other  half  of  the  twenty-four.” 
The  ancient  Knickerbocker,  it  is  true,  was  inclined  to  be 
rotund,  convivial,  and  contemplative,  but  he  was  also  con- 
scientious, orderly  and  altogether  respectable,  and  he  founded 
a metropolis  that  still  holds  him  in  pride  and  reverence. 


18 


As  early  as  1609  the  little  Dutch  yacht  Half -Moon  dropped 
anchor  in  the  familiar  river  that  now  bears  the  name  of  its 
discoverer;  and  although  he  was  an  Englishman,  he  was 
prospecting  under  Dutch  authority,  and  it  was  the  hand  of 
a Dutchman  that  planted  the  emblem  of  the  States  General 
on  territory  that  all  to-day  acknowledge  as  the  Empire  State 
of  the  Western  World. 

English  historians  are  quite  fond  of  saying  that  this  dis- 
covery of  the  Hudson  river  was  quite  as  much  the  result  of 
accident  as  design,  that  the  voyage  of  the  Half-Moon  was 
simply  a commercial  venture  of  the  East  India  company  who 
were  stupidly  quite  as  rejoiced  to  see  their  vessel  returned  as 
Hudson  himself — so  little  did  they  comprehend  the  possibili- 
ties to  which  the  voyage  pointed ; and  that,  in  the  broad  sun- 
light of  the  discovery  by  the  Cabots,  which  they  thought 
should  include  the  whole  continent,  the  claim  presently  set 
up  of  priority  by  a Dutch  trading  company  was  all  moon- 
shine. 

Nevertheless,  the  East  India  company  promptly  despatched 
to  Manhattan  a body  of  traders ; a goodly  company  of  set- 
tlers followed  and  Holland  officially  took  possession  of  what 
is  now  New  York,  together  with  considerable  adjoining  terri- 
tory that  included  our  own  State  of  Connecticut — the  whole 
being  called  New  Netherlands.  And  this  was  done  despite 
the  threats  of  Old  and  the  protests  of  New  England  ; and  thus 
began  troubles  between  the  conflicting  nationalities  which 
continued  for  more  than  half  a century. 

To  fully  understand  why  such  unnatural  troubles  should 
disturb  the  natural  solitude  of  early  Connecticut,  we  should 
remember  that  the  traders,  who  penetrated  these  wilds  were 
quite  different  in  character  from  the  good  people  of  New 
Amsterdam ; for,  while  the  latter  came  with  pretty  much  the 
same  purpose  as  the  people  of  ancient  Connecticut,  the  former 
had  scarcely  other  object  than  to  buy  up  large  tracts  on 
which  to  monopolize  trade  with  the  natives,  and  being  a rov- 
ing, careless  class,  made  themselves  obnoxious  to  our  sober, 
staid  fathers,  in  a variety  of  obvious  ways.  When,  therefore, 
in  the  autumn  of  1633,  a company  of  planters  from  Plymouth, 


19 


broke  ground  at  Windsor,  and  found,  within  half  a dozen 
miles,  a Dutch  fort  and  trading  station,  and  were  confronted 
with  a claim  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Co.  that  coolly  took  in 
the  entire  valley,  we  cannot  wonder  that  a series  of  bitter 
quarrels  was  inaugurated.  The  Dutchman,  indignant  that 
his  Indian  deeds  were  questioned,  scornfully  smiled  at  any 
allusion  to  Plymouth  charter  or  King  James’  patent.  He 
laughed  outright  at  the  Scriptural  texts  with  which  the  pil- 
grim was  wont  to  bolster  what  he  considered  his  peculiar 
privileges  ; such  utterances,  the  Dutch  frontiersman  argued, 
were  those  of  Christians,  who  served  God,  after  first  taking 
care  of  themselves.  But  the  Plymoutli-man  gradually  got  the 
better  of  his  rival  by  cutting  down  the  trees  and  plowing  the 
grounds  nearer  and  nearer  the  trading  stations,  continuing 
the  civilizing  process  until  the  jovial  traders  were  compelled 
to  seek  more  congenial  quarters.  The  Good  Hope  Fort  had 
not  been  happily  named ; its  promise  of  future  wealth  was 
broken  by  English  axe  and  plow ; its  wild  surroundings  soon 
gave  place  to  the  tilled  fields  and  neat  habitations  of  a people 
that  had  come  to  stay.  Let  us  remark  here,  however,  that 
it  was  from  no  lack  of  courage  that  the  trader  withdrew  from 
this  region — the  staunch  Hollander,  who  had  conquered  his 
country  from  the  sea  and  had  defiantly  sailed  the  English 
channel  with  a broom  at  mast-head,  was  not  to  be  daunted 
by  any  impediment  in  the  American  wilderness.  But  his  oc- 
cupation gone  he  discreetly  retired,  and,  as  may  be  said,  with 
all  the  honors  of  war. 

It  seeing  pertinent  to  recall  just  here  that  when  Captain 
Underhill,  “ the  Friar  Tuck  of  New  England  Greenwood  ” 
feasted  his  twenty-three  men  within  the  abandoned  pallisades 
of  Good  Hope,  he  found  little  to  reward  his  exploit,  and, 
indeed,  had  to  supply  his  own  “ Dutch  Courage.” 

Failure  often  follows  the  best  endeavor,  and  the  best  suc- 
cess is  not  always  the  award  of  better  motive  ; but  our  fathers 
insisted  that  the  Dutch  were  wrong,  from  first  to  last,  both 
in  object  and  action.  There  was  a wide  difference,  they 
argued,  between  settlers  who  came  to  make  permanent  homes 
for  themselves  in  a land  specially  reserved  by  providence,  and 


20 


the  godless  adventurers  who  had  no  better  errand  than  to 
multiply  patroonsliips  and  heap  up  wealth  and  temporary 
power  after  the  manner  of  the  greedy  monoply,  the  East  In- 
dia Company,  in  heathen  lands ; and  so,  it  was  clearly  a 
providential  decree  that  the  Dutch  must  go. 

Many  attacks  of  Indians,  too,  were  laid  at  the  door  of  the 
traders — they  being  supposed  to  have  identity  of  interests 
with  the  natives — and  there  was  hardly  a meeting  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  but  accusations  of  a league  t6  destroy  all  the 
English  were  seriously  considered.  Many  of  these  reports, 
so  far  as  my  reading  goes  to  show,  were  indignantly  denied 
by  the  Dutch  who,  nevertheless,  were  objects  of  suspicion 
long  after  the  vicinity  of  Good  Hope  was  rid  of  them. 

Boundary  lines  continued  to  be  alleged  sources  of  dispute 
and  often  bloodshed,  when  suspicion  and  cupidity  were  the 
real  causes ; and  the  hard  facts  of  history  compel  the  confes- 
sion that  our  worthy  sires  were  as  frequently  in  the  wrong 
as  the  much  abused  Dutch. 

For  a notable  instance,  how  shall  we  explain  away  the  fact 
that  when,  in  1635,  John  Winthrop,  the  younger,  brought 
over  his  commission  to  govern  Connecticut,  he  permitted  his 
followers  to  tear  down  the  arms  of  the  “ state’s  general  ” affixed 
to  a boundary  tree  of  lands  fairly  bought  of  the  natives  three 
years  before ; and  contemptuously  carved  a grinning  face  in 
its  stead. 

This  piece  of  effrontery  (to  put  it  mildly)  prompted  even 
the  loyal  Hollister  to  say  he  did  not  think  Winthrop  “ labored 
under  very  oppressive  apprehension  as  to  the  Connecticut 
boundary  question.” 

Be  this  as  it  may,  there  was  another  reason,  more  potent 
even  than  English  aggression,  that  pushed  the  traders  from 
the  vicinity  of  the  planters,  viz : they  failed  to  maintain  the 
reputation  for  fair  dealing  with  the  natives  whose  friendship, 
in  consequence,  gave  place  to  savage  resentment. 

Diedrich  Knickerbocker  was  not  altogher  fanciful  when,  in 
speaking  of  the  traders,  he  said : “ In  their  trading  for  pel- 
teries  they  were  scrupulously  honest,  (?)  establishing  as  an 
invariable  table  of  avoirdupois  that  the  hand  of  a Dutchman 


21 


weighed  one  pound  and  his  foot  two.  It  was  true  that  the 
simple  Indians  were  often  puzzled  by  the  great  disproportion 
between  bulk  and  weight : for  let  them  place  a bundle  of 
furs  never  so  large  in  one  scale,  and  the  Dutchman’s  foot  in 
the  other,  the  bundle  was  sure  to  kick  the  beam.”  The  na- 
tives, awakening  to  the  one-sidedness  of  this  mode  of  barter, 
needed  but  little  provocation  to  put  in  force  their  subtlest 
points  of  resentment ; and  the  Dutch  soon  found  the  savage 
arrow  and  firebrand  to  be  the  most  persuasive  arguments  to 
hasten  their  departure.  But  fierce  quarrels  between  the 
rival  colonists  were  continued  for  several  years  along  the 
New  Netherland  borders,  and  not  infrequently  pushed  to 
the  happy,  orderly  villages  within  that  province. 

When  in  1639  the  able  but  impetuous  Ludlowe  and  his  fol- 
lowers left  Windsor  to  settle  Fairfield,  he  found  the  ubiquit- 
ous Dutch  a formidable  obstacle  to  his  somewhat  ambitious 
designs — an  obstacle,  indeed,  over  which  his  ambition  tried 
to  vault,  but  overleapt  itself  and  fell  on  t’other  side.  I wish 
to  be  perfectly  fair  to  Roger,  and  before  now  have  attempted 
to  render  his  memory  the  homage  it  invites  by  reason  of  con- 
spicuous public  service,  but  it  appears  quite  clear  that  when, 
in  1654,  the  people  of  Fairfield  took  the  law  into  their  own 
hands  and  appointed  Ludlowe  leader  of  the  troops  to  invade 
New  Netherlands,  he  knew  better  than  to  accept  what  the 
town  had  no  right  to  bestow.*  He  failed  in  this  matter  to  act 
for  the  best  interests  of  the  town  or  colony,  and  with  little 
or  no  regard  to  that  code  he  himself  had  formulated.  His 
repeated  reports  to  the  General  Court  of  Dutch  complicity  in 
a plot  to  exterminate  the  English  do  not  appear  to  have  had 
reliable  backing ; they  were  certainly  regarded  with  suspicion, 
and  it  was  through  the  adverse  action  of  the  court  that  our 
baffled  and  disappointed  lawmaker  determined  to  return  to 
England.  I suppose,  just  here,  I should  pause  to  make  allu- 
sion to  the  much  mooted  question  of  Ludlowe’s  destination 
when  he  turned  his  back  upon  the  land  of  our  fathers.  He  is 
generally  reported,  as  we  know,  to  have  retired  to  Virginia ; 
but  he  is  also  authoritatively  heard  from  in  England  about 
the  same  time.  Now,  I think,  if  I yield  a point  and  observe 


* See  Note  at  the  end  of  this  article. 


22 


that  possibly  he  sailed  to  England  from  a Virginia  port,  a 
proper  deference  is  rendered  to  conflicting  opinions.  “ The 
truth  of  this  observation  lies  in  the  application  of  it.”  And 
so,  amiable  leave  may  be  taken  of  the  problem  with  one 
brief  remark ; if  the  Dutch  had  got  hold  of  Ludlowe  at  the 
time  of  that  very  questionable  departure,  there  would  have 
been  no  mystery  now  about  his  final  taking  off.  As  has  been 
seen,  the  traders  retreated  from  early  Connecticut  very  sul- 
lenly ; which  fact  reminds  me  of  the  remark  of  a somewhat 
profane  confederate  commander  when  told  that  General  Seigel 
appeared  to  be  making  a retrogade  movement : “ Retreating 

is  lie?  Then  look  out!  for  when  that Dutchman  begins 

to  fall  backwards,  he  is  gathering  himself  up  for  a 

leap  forwards.” 

Our  colonial  Dutchman,  too,  promptly  changed  front,  and 
again  facing  the  English  settlements  looked  sternly  toward 
the  lands  of  which  he  had  been  unjustly  deprived.  Crom- 
well, on  the  other  side  of  the  water,  was  shaking  his  mailed 
hand  at  the  States  General  who  defiantly  began  to  arm.  New 
Nertherlands,  of  course,  followed  suit  and  for  the  first  time, 
complained  of  their  Dictator  and  asked  that  a new  one  might 
be  sent  out  to  them  who  would  be  equal  to  this  particular 
time  of  trouble.  He  appeared  in  the  person  of  the  renowned 
Petrus  Stuyvesant  who,  if  not  blessed  with  the  customary 
allotment  of  legs,  had  the  average  supply  of  brains.  He  also 
was  endowed  with  unequivocal  courage,  and  if  falling  a little 
short  in  manly  beauty,  had  an  executive  ability  that  gained 
the  regard  of  his  own  people  and  did  not  suffer  in  compari- 
son with  that  of  his  neighbors.  Connecticut,  too,  at  this 
juncture — with  a loyalty  not  always  so  hot  and  ready — was 
arming.  By  order  of  the  General  Court,  Fairfield  county  put 
her  quota  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  into  the  field  un- 
der command  of  that  noted  worthy,  the  Worshipful  Major 
Nathan  Gold,  who  had  succeeded  Ludlowe  as  the  leading 
man  of  ancient  Fairfield.  Savage  tells  us  that  Gold  was  at 
the  period  the  “richest  inhabitant  in  the  town.  He  was  a man 
of  sterling  character,  but  unobtrusive — bearing  little  impres- 
sion of  the  “ guinea’s  stamp  ” ; and  was  so  beloved  by  the 


23 


people  as  to  be  called  their  father.  Intellectually  the  inferior 
of  Ludlowe,  he  was  more  reliable,  and  had  better  balance  ; 
perhaps  he  was  blessed  with  one  of  those  equitable  tempera- 
ments that  always  seems  to  enable  its  happy  possessor  to  do 
the  right  thing  at  the  right  moment,  a temperament  that  the 
almost  great  Ludlowe  did  not  possess.  All  the  same,  it  is 
dangerous  to  excuse  the  lapses  of  public  men  on  the  ground 
of  temperament ; as  an  analytic  writer  recently  well  puts  it : 
u The  savage  lurks  so  near  the  surface  in  every  man  that  a 
constant  watch  must  be  kept  upon  the  passions  and  impulses 
or  he  leaps  out  in  his  war-paint,  and  the  poor  integument  of 
civilization  that  held  him,  is  flung  aside  like  a useless  gar- 
ment.” 

So  little  is  known  of  the  individuality  of  Major  Gold,  that 
even  an  abstract  of  one  of  his  orders  to  his  sentries,  when 
war-like  troubles  with  the  Dutch  were  imminent,  seems 
worthy  of  record : “ The  charge  to  the  watch  is  that  in  his 

Ma’tie’s  name  you  faythfully  attende  by  watching  in  such 
places  where  you  may  best  discouver  danger  of  an  enemie,  or 
of  fire,  which  you  are  to  give  notyce  of  by  cryeing  Fire  ! Fire  ! 
or  Arms ! Arms ! ; you  are  also  to  examine  all  such  personnes 
as  you  meet  unseasonably,  command  them  to  Stand ! twice, 
and  the  third  time  to  Stand ! upon  their  peril ! /,  but  if  they 
will  not  stand,  or  flye  from  you,  you  may  shoot  at  them,  but 
to  shoot  loic,  unless  you  judge  them  to  be  an  enemie,  and 
then  you  are  to  shoot  them  as  directly  as  may  be.” 

It  is  perhaps  as  well  to  remark  here  that,  although  the 
fleet  which  was  dispatched  from  Holland  did  sail  up  the 
Sound,  not  a gun  was  fired  toward  Connecticut  lines ; but 
whether  or  no  the  war-like  inhabitants  of  Fairfield  were  dis- 
appointed at  having  thereby  lost  an  opportunity  for  open 
rupture  with  New  Netherlands,  history  remains  silent. 

History  tells  with  much  emphasis,  however,  that  the  colony 
received  but  little  notice  from  the  mother  country  until  peace 
was  proclaimed  and  ended  all  prospects  of  war  between  the 
English  and  Dutch  on  either  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

But  the  Bestoration  brought  about  a most  important 
change.  Charles,  with  an  eye  to  fresh  sources  of  revenue, 


24 


began  to  take  lively  interest  in  liis  American  colonies,  and, 
with  more  zeal  than  intelligence,  despatched  his  brother,  the 
Duke  of  York,  with  a brand  new  grant  of  territory.  The  fresh 
patent  proved  so  elastic  as  to  stretch  over  not  only  New 
Netherlands,  but  pretty  much  the  whole  of  Connecticut  ori- 
ginally granted  by  the  charter  of  King  James. 

The  Duke’s  commission  was  accompanied  by  a fleet  which 
got  within  easy  range  of  the  not  very  formidable  Fort  Am- 
sterdam ; and  again  the  English  changed  its  name  to  Fort 
James.  Brave  old  Stuyvesant  was  at  first  determined  to 
fight,  but  finally  yielded  to  solicitations  of  both  Dutch  and 
English  residents  and  stumped  out  with  the  historic  remark  : 
“ I would  much  rather  be  carried  out  dead.”  He  was  the 
last  of  the  Dutch  governors  and  on  the  whole  far  from  a bad 
one.  Indeed,  it  is  pleasant  to  recall  that  he  had  many  ad- 
mirable qualities,  and,  according  to  later  historians,  seems  to 
have  given  our  fathers  as  little  trouble  as  the  peculiar  times 
and  situation  would  permit.  He  was  the  revered  ancestor  of 
a long  line  of  prominent  men,  whose  personality  and  influence 
touches  with  no  light  hand  the  life  and  thought  of  our  own 
time. 

It  is  familiar  history  that,  although  the  Dutch  recaptured 
the  fort  in  1672  and  reasserted  their  claims,  they  gave  no 
special  trouble  to  early  Connecticut ; and  two  years  later,  by 
the  treaty  of  Westminster,  Holland  ceeded  the  province  she 
had  discovered,  peopled  and  governed  with  much  wisdom 
and  order  for  sixty  years. 

It  is  true  that  New  Amsterdam  changed  hands  several 
times  during  the  period,  being  alternately  under  Dutch  and 
English  rule ; and  it  is  a very  significant  and  novel  bit  of  his- 
tory that  records  the  equally  good  order  that  prevailed  who- 
ever was  in  power. 

The  original  setlers  became  largely  sprinkled  with  English, 
and  the  two  nationalities,  so  antagonistic  in  the  Connecticut 
valley,  assimilated  quite  readily  at  Manhattan,  which  fact 
partly  accounts  for  the  cosmopolitan  character  of  New  York 
to-day. 

In  conclusion,  it  seems  to  be  the  verdict  of  rewritten  his- 


25 


tory  tliat  Sir  Edmund  Andross,  acting  for  the  Duke  of  York, 
gave  our  sires  more  real  trouble  than  ever  did  the  Dutch. 
It  scarcely  need  be  repeated  here  that  our  charter  escaped 
his  arbitary  clutches  by  little  short  of  a miracle. 

But  almost  the  last  vestige  of  the  sapling,  that  beginning 
its  marvellous  life  in  the  wilds  of  ancient  Windsor,  finally 
spread  its  protecting  arms  over  our  capital  city  of  Hartford, 
has  passed  away,  and  with  it  pretty  much  all  the  prejudices 
of  early  Connecticut. 

Many  descendants  of  the  Dutch  colonists — may  St.  Nicholas 
ever  watch  over  them — are  respected  rulers  in  high  places  or 
live  among  us  in  a common  brotherhood,  rejoicing  in  and 
helping  on  our  prosperity  and  peace — no  longer  troublesome 
neighbors. 

Note. — The  author  desires  to  say,  that  in  the  rather  hasty  preparation  of  this  paper, 
he  had  not  the  benefit  of  some  facts  brought  out  by  Rev.  Samuel  Orcutt,  in  his  Old 
Straiford  History,  pages  256  and  260,  which  must  modify  the  generally  received  opinion 
of  the  part  taken  by  Roger  Ludowe  in  these  matters. 


The  President  then  read  the  following  interesting  extracts 
from  a letter  addressed  to  him  by  Elias  S.  Hawley,  Esq.,  of 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

LETTER  FROM  MR.  HAWLEY. 
********* 
Fairfield  County  is  “ sacred  turf  ” to  me.  When  we  think 
it  over  what  strange  and  weird  reflections  arise.  Contrast 
1639  with  1885.  Imagine  the  status  of  “ Old  Stratford  ” and 
“ Old  Fairfield,”  the  father  and  mother  of  Strat-field,  named 
from  both  parents.  How  the  bantling  has  grown  into  the 
great  city  of  Bridgeyort.  “ Port  ” with  “ bridges  ” across  it, 
I suppose. 

Think  of  the  old  names — Sherman,  Wilcoxson,  Curtis,  Mi- 
nor, Fairchild  and  many  more  “fit  to  conjure  with.” 

What,  for  instance,  would  Joseph  Hawley,  1st,  of  Stratford, 
think  were  he  to-day  to  stand  on  your  docks.  He  built  the 
first  vessel  that  sailed  out  of  Stratford  and  the  Housatonic. 


26 


He  named  lier  the  “ Mary  and  John,”  after  two  of  his  chil- 
dren and  put  his  son  John  in  command,  who  thence  and 
thereby  became  for  all  time  “ Captain  John.”  It  is  not  stated 
that  Mary  went  as  cook,  perhaps  she  did.  Nor  is  the  tonage 
of  said  “ vessel  ” registered  nor  whether  she  were  schooner, 
sloop,  periauger  or  clam-boat.  If  you  ask  me  to  prove  all 
this  I am  silent.  Tradition,  about  the  most  unreliable  of 
all  authorities,  is  accountable  for  the  untruth,  if  it  be  one. 
Now,  Mr.  Joseph  Hawley,  standing  on  the  busy  docks  at 
Bridgeport  and  looking  off  to  the  harbor  and  the  Sound,  what 
do  you  quietly  remark  to  your  old  land-partner,  Mr.  John 
Minor,  whom  I see  standing  at  your  elbow  ? Do  I hear  you 
say — “Friend  Minor,  this  beats  my  boy  John’s  ‘Mary  and 
John  ’ all  out  of  sight ! ” — eh? 

What  a stupid  young  stick  I was  when  in  1834  (was  it?) 
I used  to  trot  down  of  a Saturday  afternoon  from  Weston 
(now  Easton)  academy  [Staples’  Free  School  which  lost  a 
large  portion  of  its  endowment  by  failure  of  a New  Haven 
Bank?]  to  Bridgeport  to  purchase  a little  writing  paper  or 
a book  and  pass  almost  within  a stone’s  throw  of  that  grand 
old  burying  ground  now  well  cared  for,  without  knowing  it 
was  there,  and  doubtless  not  caring  if  I had  known. 

Your  county  is  full  of  good  points  for  historical  study.  I 
should  like  to  hear,  for  instance,  a full  paper  on  “ The  King’s 
Highway,”  where  it  commenced — where  it  ended — its  width 
and  location — when  and  by  whom  “ laid  out  ” — how  kept  in 
repair — how  the  title  to  much  of  it  has  happened  to  pass  into 
private  hands,  and  all  about  it. 

Should  like  to  hear  or  read  an  exhaustive  paper  on  “ Golden 
Hill,”  another  on  “ Greenfield  Hill.”  This  paper  might  men- 
tion the  orgin  of  the  names  and  give  the  locations  of  the 
“Hills  of  Fairfield  Co.”— as  Break-Neck  Hill,  Three  Story 
Hill,  Gad’s  Hill,  etc. 

By  the  way,  our  Buffalo  Young  Men’s  Association  has  in 
course  of  construction  a large,  commodious  and  beautiful 
building — fire-proof — which,  when  it  is  completed,  is  intend- 
ed to  be  a permanent  Home , not  only  for  its  own  library  and 
collections,  but  also  for  our  Natural  Science  Society  and  its 


27 


Museum,  our  Art  Gallery,  and  our  Historical  Society  with  its 
manuscripts,  archives  and  portraits  of  early  settlers  and  citi- 
zens. This  building  will  cost  $200,000-  (besides  the  land),  of 
which  $117,000  has  been  subscribed  by  our  citizens,  and  the 
balance  is  to  be  borrowed  by  the  association  on  property  it 
holds  outside  the  new  buiding  and  from  which  it  receives  a 
large  rental  with  which  to  meet  interest,  taxes,  etc.  And 
this  reminds  me  that  it  would  be  just  a splendid  thing  to  do 
if  some  of  the  wealthy  and  liberal  citizens  of  your  city  and 
county  would  club  and  endow  The  Fairfield  County  Historical 
Society.  No  money  could  find  a better  investment  as  a per- 
manent means  of  education  and  improvement,  or  as  a source 
of  pure  and  high  pleasure  to  thousands  for  all  time.  History 
is  being  made  constantly,  and  no  method  for  its  authentic 
preservation  is  so  sure,  as  a permanent  and  living  Historical 
Society. 

The  other  day  a very  intelligent  and  wealthy  lady  of  this 
city  found  that  she  had  no  means  at  hand,  of  establishing  the 
date  of  the  death  of  a sister  who  died  young,  many  years 
ago.  I heard  of  her  perplexity,  and  dropping  in  to  our  His- 
torical Rooms,  in  ten  minutes  found  the  required  date.  We 
have  a continuous  record  of  marriages  and  deaths  from  A.  D. 
1811  to  the  present  times,  numbering,  I think,  over  17,000. 
Old  Mortality  with  his  mallet  and  chisel  is  “ nowhere  ” in 
comparison  with  an  industrious  and  conscientious  and  pains- 
taking Historical  Society. 

Yours,  respectfully, 

ELIAS  S.  HAWLEY. 


APPENDIX. 


PEQUONNOCK  RIVER. 


•jauOfi  pnrang 

'uiip-vva  r 


■oogi  moqn  ino  piuq  \La3>IJ,S  QTOO 


■osnofi  jajqSncjs 


Map  of  th e poition  of  Rridffcport  cast  of  Main  street  and 
north  of  Golden  Jlill  to  Congress  street,  about  the 
year  1759,  showing  the  old  Porter  place, 
recently  demolished. 

I’  r e p a r e d for  the  History  of  Bridgeport. 


< 

I 


< 


a 


i 


History  of  the  Porter  Property 


PAPER  READ  BEFORE  THE 

FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

By  R.  B.  LACEY,  Esq., 

June  12th,  1885. 


There  is  much  of  interesting  and  sug- 
gestive history  connected  with  premises 
No.  532  Main  street  and  the  house 
recently  demolished  to  make  room 
for  a block  of  stores.  The  territory, 
nearly  seven  acres,  on  the  east  side  of  high- 
way (Main  street)  from  a point  at  or  near 
Golden  Hill  street  to  Congress,  bounded 
easterly  by  the  creek  or  harbor,  was  pur- 
chased by  Samuel  Porter.  Sen.,  from  Zacha- 
ariah  Hawley  Feb.  5,  1759.  I have  the  pleas- 
ure of  presenting  in  this  connection  a plot  of 
the  premises  copied  from  the  original  made 
by  Wolcott  Hawley,  surveyor,  found  among 
the  Porter  papers  and  now  in  my  possession. 
The  following  is  the  interesting  portion  of 
the  original  deed  of  the  above  date: 

To  all  persons,  &c.,  Greeting.  Know  ye 
that  I Zakry  Hawley  of  Stratford  & County 
of  Fairfield  & Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New 
England  For  the  Consideration  of  One  Hun- 
dred and  two  pounds  York  money  by  me  in 
hand  received  to  my  full  satisfaction  of  Sam- 
uel Porter  of  Stratford  & County  & Colony 
aforesaid  do  give  grant  bargain  sell  and  con- 
firm unto  the  Said  Samuel  Porter  & to  his 
heirs  and  assigns  forever  my  Dwelling  house 
& Land  whereon  it  stands  on  Golden  Hill, 
called  ye  old  fort,  and  is  Bounded  South  on 
Deacou  Joseph  Booth’s  Land  Easterly  and 
Northerly  on  ye  creek  & West  on  highway — 
the  Sd  house  & Land  with  all  the  appurte- 
nances thereunto  Belonging  for  him  the  said 
Samuel  Porter  forever.  To  have  and  to 
hold,  &c. 

“Witness  my  Hand  and  Seal  the  5th  day  of 

Feb.  in  the  32d  year  of  the  Reign  / 

of  our  Sovereign  Lord  GEORGE  ( ) 

the  Second  of  Great  Britain,  ete.,  l.  s.  > 
King  Aunoque  Domini,  1759.  ( ) 

Signed  Zacharia  Hawley. 

Signed  and  sealedetc.,  in  presence  of 

Theopholis  Nichols, 
Joseph  Nichols. 

It  appears  there  was  a dwelling  house  on 
the  plot  in  1759,  probably  not  the  one  which 
has  just  been  taken  down.  The  latter  was 
probably  erected  by  Mr,  Samuel  Porter,  Sen., 
soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  with  the  ‘'Old  Red  house”  which  stood 


on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  (Main'street) 
the  site  of  the  present  wooden  block  of  Mr. 
N.  Wheeler,  was  among  the  very  first  resi- 
dences of  a good  class  erected  upon  the  New- 
field,  as  Bridgeport  was  then  called.  James 
and  Zachariah  Hawley  were  sous  of  Gideon 
and  third  in  descent  from  the  original  Joseph 
Hawley  of  Stratford,  through  first  Ephraim 
and  Sarah  Wells,  and  second  Gideon  and 
Ann  Bennett.  They  were  pioneers  here. 
The  Hawley  family  were  large  land  owners. 
James  seems  to  have  settled  on  the  west  side 
of  the  highway.  His  son,  Deacon  Elijah, 
was  a house  carpenter.  He  occupied  and 
probably  built  the  old  red  house.  Isaac 
Sherman,  Esq.,  says  of  him:  He  removed  to 
the  West  very  early,  and  died  in  Ohio  in 
1825,  aged  84  years.  He  had  a son  by  the 
name  of  Jesse,  who  was  born  in  the  old  red 
house.  Said  Jesse  removed  to  the  state  of 
New  York  in  early  life  and  died  there  in  1843 
at  the  age  of  70  years.  It  is  said  that  he 
(Jesse  Hawley)  was  the  projector  of  the  Erie 
canal.  He  communicated  his  ideas  to  Gov- 
ernor DeWitt  Clinton,  which  resulted  in  the 
construction  of  that  great  work.  Major 
Aaron  Hawley,  a brother  of  Deacon  Elijah, 
appears  to  have  been  the  owner  of  the  old 
red  house  in  1787,  at  which  period  ’the  ‘‘up- 
right highway”  (Main  street)  was  widened 
and  the  site  of  the  famous  well  in  front, 
which  stood  its  width  upon  the  street,  was 
excepted  and  liberty  was  given  to  fence 
around  it.  The  same  well  exists  to-day  cov- 
ered by  the  sidewalk  stone.  Zachariah  Haw- 
ley married  Bethia  Austin  of  Suffield,  Ct., 
and  probably  removed  to  Massachusetts. 
None  of  his  descendants  appear  in  this  part 
of  Connecticut. 

Samuel  Porter,  Sen.,  diedJ'September  15, 
1795. 

The  Porter  purchase  remained  intact  as 
field  land  during  his  life,  except  at  the  south 
end  he  gave  a house  lot  as  an  advancement 
to  his  daughter  Mary,  who  married  .Lewis 
Sturges.  The  old  house,  now  a portion  of 
the  Elisha  Hubbell  property  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Main  and  Golden  Hill  streets,  was 
the  residence  of  Isaac  Sturges,  son  of  Lewis. 
His  other  son,  Joseph  P.  Sturges  (commonly 
called  Porter  Sturges),  had  his  residence  a 


4 


little  south.  The  original  house  stands,  but 
it  has  a brick  front  and  has  been  raised  an 
extra  story.  The  main  building  is  occupied 
by  Cohen  (millinery)  and  Bain  (tea  and  coffee 
store).  It  was  a double  house,  with  hall  way 
and  kitchen  wings  both  on  the  north  and  the 
south.  Porter  Sturges  occupied  the  south 
house  and  Henry  Coty  and  the  late  Thomas 
Hutchins  successively  rented  and  occupied 
the  north  part  for  many  years.  Ihere  was  a 
vacant  lot  between  the  two  Sturges  houses 
through  which  Golden  Hill  street  was  ex- 
tended in  1847  from  Main  street  easterly, 
leaving  a strip  of  land  on  the  south  side  of 
the  street  which  was  leased  by  the  city  and 
an  engine  house  for  the  original  No.  5 hand- 
engine,  was  erected  thereon.  The  same  build- 
ing is  now  occupied  as  a bakery,  &c.,  by  Mr. 
A.  Brennan. 

The  original  survey  from  which  the  fore- 
going diagram  was  taken  was  made  by  Wol- 
cott Hawley,  surveyor,  a brother  of  Major 
Aaron  and  Deacon  Elijah  Hawley,  October 
20,  1795,  to  aid  the  distribution  of  the  estate 
of  Samuel  Porter,  Sen.  The  original  plotting 
has  the  dotted  lines  showing  the  tracts  and 
quantities  set  out  to  the  two  heirs,  to  wit : 
Samuel  Porter,  Jr.,  who  had  a double  por 
tion  of  the  real  estate,  and  his  sister  Mary 
Sturges. 

Lewis  and  Isaac  Sturges  with  their  families 
went  West  about  1820.  and  later  were  settled 
in  Wisconsin.  Rev.  Albert  Sturges,  the  vete- 
ran missionary  of  the  “American  Board”  in 
Micronesia,  is  from  this  family. 

They  sold  their  interest  in  the  remnant  of 
this  property  on  the  death  of  Samuel  Porter, 
Jr.,  who  died  without  issue  September  9, 
1842.  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Sturges,  of  Green- 
field Hill  (Fairfield),  Ct.,  is  the  only  son  and 
heir  of  Joseph  P.  Sturges.  He  inherited  the 
undivided  one-halt  of  the  old  Porter  house 
and  lot,  No.  532  Main  street,  and  came  into 
possession  on  the  death  of  the  widow  of 
Samuel  Porter,  Jr..  April  12, 1867.  Recently 
there  has  been  a division  by  which  he  has 
acquired  sole  ownership  of  the  entire  Main 
street  front,  and  is  putting  it  to  use  by  erect- 
ing the  one-story  block  of  stores  now  in 
progress.  The  location  is  a tine  one  and 
worthy  of  more  substantial  buildings. 

Having  traced  the  connection  of  the  Porter 
and  Sturges  families  with  the  land  embraced 
in  the  diagram  it  remains  to  gather  up  the 
interesting  points  of  history  in  respect  to  the 
use  that  has  been  made  of  it.  It  is  referred 
to  in  the  Ancient  deed  printed  above 
— as  located  “on  Golden  Hill”  showing 
that  the  Golden  Hill  land  as  then  designated 
extended  to  the  Creek  or  Pequonnock  River. 
And  further  it  was  “called  Ye  Old  Fort.” 
Referring  to  the  diagram,  on  the  right  hand 
side,  bordering  the  creek  at  the  extreme  point 
“Ye  Old  Fort”  is  located.  These  are  the 
only  allusions  to  a fort  here,  now  known  and 
its  previous  existence  must  have  been  tradi- 
tionary in  1795.  It  could  hardly  have  been 
built  by  the  English  settlers,  or  there  would 


have  been  some  record  of,  or  in  connection 
with  its  erection  and  use.  It  follows  then, 
that  it  must  have  been  an  Indian  fortification 
which  had  gone  into  disuse  at  the  date  of  the 
deed  1759.  The  location  was  a rocky  pro- 
monotory  jutting  out  into  the  creek  from  a 
beautiful  plateau  which  extended  back  to 
the  Highway — Main  street.  Later,  for  three- 
quarters  of  a century  it  was  universally 
known  as  “Porter’s  Rocks>”  It  retained 
nearly  its  pristine  beauty  until  1838 
and  was  a favorite  resort  for  sports  and  bath- 
ing, by  the  young  men  and  boys  of  the  period, 
a few  of  whom  survive  to-day.  There  was 
the  round  rock  and  the  flat  rock— b >th  ex- 
tending out  so  as  to  afford  at  their  base  con- 
siderable depth  of  water  at  high  tide ; the 
latter  was  at  the  extreme  point  and  was  a 
favorite  place  for  fishing,  especially  for  frost- 
fish  in  their  season.  A short  distance  from 
the  point  on  the  northern  bank  was  the  round 
rock,  from  which  the  bathers  took  their  leap 
head  foremost  nto  the  briny  waters.  The 
bank  here  was  skirled  by  cedars,  which  af- 
forded a good  cover  for  this  sport. 

As  has  been  said  the  entire  Porter  property 
remained  intact,  and  was  used  as  field  land 
until  after  1795.  About  this  period — just 
before  the  commencement  of  the  present 
century,  a new  spirit  of  enterprise  was 
awakened  here.  Previous  to  the  Revolution- 
ary war  the  parish  of  Stratfield  was  a quiet 
agricultural  settlemont  of  no  special  import- 
ance. Nothing  had  been  done  to  develop 
business  at  the  Newfields  or  Bridgeport.  Long 
Island  Sound  had  indeed  become  a highway 
of  commerce.  The  then  frequent  disturban- 
ces in  the  political  atmosphere  of  the  Old 
World,  were  soon  felt  here,  and  the  infant 
settlements,  unprotected  as  they  were,  aud 
their  trading  vessels  especially, were  a tempt- 
ing and  an  easy  prey  to  the  privateers,  which 
swarmed  on  the  American  coast. 

The  harbors  aud  settlements  lying  close 
upon  the  Sound  were  most  exposed.  Pe- 
quonnock river  or  creek,  however,  was  ex- 
ceptionally safe.  There  was  fully  as  much 
depth  of  water  above  the  neck,  now  the  site 
of  Berkshire  bridge,  as  on  the  bar  outside, 
and  plenty  of  space  also.  The  wooded  bluffs 
of  the  shore,  some  of  them  jutting  out  into 
bold  promentories  shut  out  this  portion  from 
the  open  harbor  and  Sound,  affording  a safe 
retreat — almost  a hiding  place.  Under  the 
then  existing  state  of  things,  it  is  no  wonder 
that  the  first  commerce  was  developed  from 
this  point.  Theopholis  Nichols  and  his  sou 
Philip  had  their  store  ana  wharf  at  the  ex- 
treme head  of  navigation,  near  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Plumb  place.  They  built  aud 
sailed  vessels  from  • there,  as  did  also  Capt. 
Stephen  Burroughs,  Sen.  The  shore  oppo- 
site the  old  red  brick  house  on  North  avenue, 
was  long  known  aud  designated  as  the  “ship- 
yard.” The  commercial  and  trading 
interests  to  this  period,  with  Boston,  New 
York, &c., were  not  large, yet  were  sufficient  to 
foster  a spirit  of  enterprise,  and  educate  and 


5 


prepare  the  more  enterprising  young  men  to 
embrace  their  opportunities.  The  es- 
tablishment and  recognition  of  our 

national  independence,  not  only  in- 
fused new  life,  but  brought  greater 

security  to  our  coast  and  coasting 

trade.  The  back  country  naturally  center- 
ing here  was  rich  in  agricultural  resources. 
Boston,  New  York,  South  Atlantic  States, 
and  the  West  Indies, were  the  markets.  Water 
street  had  been  laid  out  from  the  present 
Fairfield  avenue,  three  rods  wide,  to  Wells’ 
Tongue.  Wharves  and  stores  now  began 
to  be  built  on  it.  Men  and  families  that  had 
lived  one  to  two  miles  interior  settled  on  the 
shore  aud  entered  vigorously  into  trade  and 
commerce.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned 
the  Nichols,  Hawleys,  Hubbells,  Shermans, 
Burroughs,  Sterlings  and  Summers.  The  ad- 
vantages of  our  location  and  harbor  appear  to 
have  been  appreciated  then  as  now  and  an  en- 
terprising and  valuable  element  came  in,  from 
the  surrounding  towns  more  or  less  distant. 
Esq.  Isaac  Sherman  mentions  by  name  not 
less  than  forty  men  who  came  from  abroad 
aud  settled  here  from  1790  to  1806.  who 
either  brought  families  or  soon  became  heads 
of  families  and  most  of  them  prominent  as 
successful  business  men.* 

In  1800,  the  borough  of  Bridgeport  was 
chartered.  The  bridge  across  the  harbor  had 
just  been  built,  and  many  now  streets  had 
been  laid  out.  These  were  now  recognized 
and  named.  Among  them,  Gold  street  was 
laid  out,  two  rods  wide,  from  Main  street  to 
the  harbor,  and  Middle  street,  extending  from 
Wall  streft  to  Gold.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Wade,  a 
watch  maker  by  trade,  from  Norwich,  Conn., 
(afterward  merchant,)  bought  land  of  Mr. 
Porter,  and  erected  his  house,  the  same  now 
standing  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Gold  streets.  Philo  and  De.  Luzern  DeForest 
secured  the  northeast  corner,  aud  erected  the 
house  now  standing  there,  so  long  owned 
and  occupied  by  Isaac  Sherman,  Esq.,  and 
now  by  his  descendants.  Captain  Joseph  Ster- 
ling Edwards,  from  Trumbull,  Conn.,  bought 
aud  built  on  the  south  side  of  Gold  street, 
from  Middle  street  to  Water  street.  His  wid- 
ow left  this  with  other  property,  at  her  death 
to  her  brother,  Tsaac  Burroughs,  E^q.,  which 
has  served  to  swell  the  Petteugill  estate,  from 
which  such  munificent  public  benefactions 
are  now  being  realized.  Mr. 
Jesse  Sterling,  also  from  Trum- 
bull, merchant,  purchased  the  site  on 
the  north  side  of  Geld  street  at  the  head  of 
Water  street  and  erected  the  house  more  re- 
cently owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Abel 
Drew.  The  same  was  removed  in  1870  for 
the  extension  of  Water . street.  Later,  on 
Main  street,  next  north  of  Isaac  Sherman, 

* This  list  appears  in  full  in  the  history  of  Bridge- 
port, now  in  preparation  by  Mr  Orcutt,  and  em- 
braces most  of  the  old  Bridgeport  names  and  promi- 
nent families  among  the  original  settlers  of  the 
place.  It  shows  the  places  from  whence  they  came 
to  Bridgeport  and  how  the  surrounding  towns  con- 
tributed to  build  up  the  new  and  enterprising  city. 


Capt.  Gershom  E.  Hubbell  located.  Next  to 
him  was  Mr.  George  Smith  and  last  on  the 
plot  was  Capt.  William  Goodsell,  who  had 
his  slaughter  house  on  the  bank  of  the  creek 
in  the  rear  of  the  dwellings, 

Isaac  Sherman  sold  a part  of  his  Main 
street  front  to  Capt.  Joseph  H.  Hand  from 
Long  Island — the  same  property  now  owned 
by  Jacob  Sutter  and  occupied  by  C.  P.  Coe’s 
wholesale  and  retail  grocery. 

WEAVER  SHOP. 

Referring  to  the  diagram,  you  observe 
northerly  of  the  dwelling  house  of  Samuel 
Porter,  standing  back  from  the  highway,  is 
a building  designated  as  a Weaver’s  shop. 
Both  Samuel  Porter,  Sen.,  and  his  son  of  the 
same  name  were  weavers  by  trade,  and  sup- 
plied the  settlement  with  their  elegant  or 
plain  woolen  bed  coverlets  (specimens  of 
which  are  still  extant  in  the  old  families), 
woolen  cloth  and  blankets,  damask  and  plain 
linen,  &c. 

So  far  as  appears,  this  building  was  the 
first  specially  devoted  to  manufacture  in  the 
limits  of  Bridgeport,  aud  contrasts  strongly 
with  the  splendid  and  extensive  structures  of 
the  present  day. 

SALT  WORKS. 

For  some  reason  which  does  not  now  ap- 
pear, after  the  close  of  the  second  war  with 
Great  Britain,  somewhere  about  1818-20,  it 
was  deemed  a wise  measure  to  secure  salt  of 
home  manufacture,  and  so  prudent  and 
sagacious  a man  as  the  late  Isaac  Sherman 
was  persuaded  it  was  safe  to  invest  capital 
aud  labor  in  it.  The  beautiful  platteau  north 
of  Gold  street,  the  property  of  his  brother- 
in-law,  Samuel  Porter,  Jun. , was  selected  as 
the  site  for  the  operations.  The  location  of 
the  evaporating  vats  are  shown  on  the  dia- 
gram. The  salt  water  was  pumped  from  the 
bay  or  creek  into  the  vats,  by  means  of  a 
wind  mill  stationed  at  or  near  the  Point.  No 
statistics  are  extant  as  to  the  quantity  or 
quality  of  the  product,  but  merchantable 
salt  was  made.  One  mistake  as  to  location 
became  apparent,  that  the  water  of  the  creek 
at  this  point  was  too  much  diluted  with  the 
fresh  water  of  its  tributaries.  This  and  in- 
creased facilities  for  procuring  the  West 
India  product,  both  conspired  to  render  the 
enterprise  unprofitable.  The  “Salt  Works,” 
as  they  were  called,  were  ^mentioned  in  the 
will  of  Samuel  Porter,  Jun.,  written  in  1828. 
The  unused  vats  were  admirably  adapted  to, 
and  much  used  for  the  game  of  “hide  and 
seek.”  The  writer  remembers  them  about 
1830  They  disappeared  soon  after  this  date. 

SLAUGHTER  HOUSE. 

Capt.  William  Goodsell  who  early  lived  in 
the  old  yellow  house  which  was  removed 
from  Main  street  in  1871  in  order  to  open 
Congress  street,  is  believed  to  have  been  the 
first  to  fit  up  and  occupy  a regular  slaughter 
house  here.  Its  location  is  given  on  the  dia- 
gram, It  was  a barn-like  structure  standing 


6 


on  the  edge  of  the  bluff  and  extending  almost 
its  whole  size  over  the  bank  (which  was  well 
washed  by  each  flood  tide),  the  building  be- 
ing supported  by  substantial  posts.  Its  site 
whs  included  in  the  purchase  of  the  late  Mr. 
Benjamin  Ray,  who  had  much  difficulty  in 
getting  the  lines  fixed  satisfactorily.  In  his 
numerous  and  vigorous  talks  about  the  mat- 
ter, well  remembered  by  many,  very  frequent 
allusions  were  made  to  “Capt.  Goodsell’s 
slaughter  house  yard,’-  It  is  interesting  to 
note  how  the  progress  of  the  settlement — 
moved  back  the  slaughter  houses.  The  next 
location  was  that  of  Gideon  and  Eli  Thomp- 
son on  the  westerly  side  of  North  Washington 
avenue,  not  far  from  the  present  site  of  Mul- 
lov’s  lane— say  from  1833  to  1843.  From 
this,  the  same  parties  removed  to  what  is  now 
the  Thompson  farm,  a little  south  of  the  toll 
gate  on  the  Huntington  Turnpike — while 
Smith  & Stratton  and  their  successors  and 
Capt.  Terry,  located  theirs  on  the  Newtown 
Turnpike  about  two  miles  out  of  town.  The 
heavy  beef  is  now  mostly  butchered  for  this 
market  in  Chicago,  111.,  transported  in  Re- 
frigerator cars  and  distributed  from  Refrig- 
erator depots  (two  of  them  located  on  this 
territory)  to  be  dispensed  in  steaks  and  roasts 
from  the  Refrigerators  of  the  local  markets 
and  stalls. 

SADDLE  BOXES. 

The  shipment  to  markets  in  the  South,  of 
the  large  quantities  of  saddles  and  harness 
manufactured  here  from  1815  to  1860,  re- 
quired many  strong  boxes  of  special  form 
and  sizes.  Up  to  about  1848-9,  theso  were 
almost  exclusively  made  by  hand , by  Mr. 
Porter  Sturges,  whose  shop  and  lumber  yard 
were  on  Middle  street  at  the  presentjcorner  ot 
Golden  Hill  street  occupied  now  by  the 
Naugatuck  Valley  Ice  Co.  His  assistant 
when  needed  was  the  late  Mr.  David  Wheeler 
who  lived  on  Arch  street,  later  on  Newtown 
turnpike  near  Beach  street. 

This  afforded  reliable  and  steady  employ- 
ment, and  with  the  frugality  for  which  they 
were  both  noted,  laid  the  foundation  of 
haedsome  estates,  for  each. 

Increased  quantity  needed  and  the  compe- 
tition of  machinery,  diverted  the  source  of 
supply,  to  the  shops  of  L.  C.  Shepard  & Co. 
about  1850,  then  located  at  the  site  of  the 
north  end  of  the  Atlantic  Hotel,  the  Union 
House  being  a part;  later  to  Lyon  & Curtis 
on  “Simons’  wharf.” 

COMB  MAKING. 

Moss  K.  Botsford,  from  Newtown,  pur- 
chased of  Jesse  Sterling  the  house  on  the 
bank  north  side  of  Gold  street  at  the  head  of 
Water  street,  establishod  and  carried  on  for 
awhile  the  comb  making  business.  This  busi- 
ness had  a great  run  about  1830-35.  Bethel 
and  Newtown  were  largely  engaged  in  it. 
Some  were  successful  for  a time,  but  the  fash- 
ions were  extremely  changeable  and  business 
fitful  which  led  to  my  failures.  The  business 
hardly  obtained  a foothold  here. 


COOPERAGE. 

Mr.  Abel  Drew  from  Derby  was  the  next 
owner  of  the  above  mentioned  house.  The 
commerce  of  the  place,  especially  the  West 
India  trade  and  for  a number  of  years  the 
whaling  business,  required  a great  many 
casks  and  made  a lively  business  for  the 
coopers.  Mr.  Drew’s  shop  was  on  the  south 
shore  of  the  point.  He  employed  a number 
of  men.  It  was  lively  times  in  his  shop  early 
and  late  and  all  the  time.  Mr.  Drew  saw  and 
embraced  his  opportunities  and  here  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  handsome  estate. 

HOUSATONIC  RAILROAD. 

In  1836  the  Housatonic  Railroad  was 
chartered  for  a line  from  Bridgeport  to  the 
north  boundary  of  the  state  in  the  town  of 
Canaan,  Litchfield  County.  The  company 
was  organized,  capital  subscribed  and  right 
of  way  secured  to  New  Milford  in  1838. 
Commencing  at  a point  near  the  west  ap- 
proach to  the  Bridgeport  Bridge  (Fairfield 
Avenue)  it  extended  northerly  across  the 
mud  flats  and  over  this  Porter  property 
making  thereon  quite  a deep  cut.  The  com- 
pany not  only  purchased  the  usual  right  of 
way  over  this  property  for  main  tracks,  but 
secured  the  entire  point  east  of  the  main 
line,  graded  it  down,  using  the  material 
towards  filling  the  roadway  across  the  adja- 
cent mud  flats,  and  then  located  their  engine 
house,  turn-tables  and  car  shop  thereon. 

A wharf  was  constructed  at  the  extreme 
point,  and  the  Loug  Island  skipper  connect- 
ed with  Mi.  Roswell  Lewis,  coal  and  wood 
yard,  landed  thereon  the  pine  wood  which 
was  then  used  at  this  end  of  the  line  for  fuel 
for  the  locomotives.  Thus  the  beatiful  bluff 
was  invaded,  and  its  glory,  as  such,  departed 
before  the  march  of  modern  utilily  and  pro- 
gress. The  construction  and  operating  of 
the  railroad  developed  the  need  of  foundry 
and  machine  shops.  This  need  was  measura- 
bly supplied  by  the  late  Mr.  David  Wheeler 
of  Park  avenue,  who  was  in  1843  joined  by  , 
Messrs.  George  and  J.  R.  Young,  and  had 
their  works  in  a wooden  building  on  the  same 
site  as  the  present  Bridgeport  Iron  Works, 
which  is  made  land  on  the  mud  flats 
fronting  this  Porter  property. 

FIRST  CENTRE  BRIDGE. 

When  in  1852  Mr.  P.  T.  Barnum  joined 
Gen.  Wm.  H.  Noble  for  the  development  and 
improvement  of  East  Bridgeport,  they  at 
once  realized  that  they  must  have  more  di- 
rect and  easier  communication  with  the  busi  ■ 
ness  portion  of  west  side  of  the  harbor. 
Hence  they  procured  a charter  for  a bridge — 
the  eastern  terminus  about  identical  with 
that  of  the  present  Centre  bridge,  and  the 
western  end,  spanning  the  Housatonic  rail- 
road track,  and  landing  upon  the  high  bank 
of  this  Porter  property,  for  which  they  made 
an  appropriate  purchase  of  Mrs.  Ellen  Por- 
ter, the  widow  [of  Samuel  Porter,  Jr.,  Nov. 
19th,  1852. 


: This  was  reached  by  a street  which  had 

j been  dedicated  as  a highway  by  Mr.  Porter, 
and  named  by  him  Summer  street,  extending 
northerly  from  Gold  street  a little  east  of  the 
line  of  Middle  street  extended.  After  the 
location  of  the  bridge  it  was  called  Bridge 
street.  By  the  kindness  of  General  Noble 
this  society  has  a picture  of  the  bridge  on 
its  walls,  painted  in  water  colors— showing  a 
condition  of  the  surroundings  now  most 
thoroughly  changed.  When  the  new  Centre 
bridge  was  constructed  in  1869,  the  western 
terminus  was  changed  to  Congress  street, 
crossing  the  railroad  at  grade.  Middle  street, 
was  soon  after  extended  thereto  in  a direct 
line  and  Bridge  street,  discontinued.  In 
November,  1861,  the  city  purchased  this 
bridge  and  appurtenances  with  the  other 
bridges  across  the  harbor,  and  in  the  adjust- 
ment of  property  interests  affected  by  these 
changes,  and  the  extension  of  Middle  street, 
the  city  obtained  the  site  of  the  present  No.  5 
engine  house. 

Previous  to  the  extension  of  Congress 
street  for  the  western  terminus  of  the  Centre 
Bridge  in  1869,  the  mud  flats  and  low  ground 
en  the  west  side  of  the  Housatonic  railroad 
track  from  the  Porter  property  to  Lumber 
street,  was  flooded,  though  a water  way  at 
;he  old  mill  located  near  the  line  of  Lumber 
street  and  the  face  of  the  wharf  at  that 
mint.  The  water  was  changed  and  purified 
sach  flood  tide,  but  the  gate  in  the  water  way 
•etained  enough  to  give  at  all  times  a depth 
>f  several  feet  in  the  southern  portion  near 
his  Porter  property.  Previous  to  the  intro- 
luction  of  the  present  water  supply  much 
lependence  was  placed  upon  the  salt  water 
>f  the  Harbor  for  extinguishing  fires, 
phis  vicinity  was  practically  shut  off  from 
he  water  front,  especially  at  low  tide.  To 
neet  this  necessity  Mrs.  Ellen  Porter  deeded 

0 the  town  an  addition  to  the  Bridge  street 
lighway  May  19,  1859,  and  opened  a way  to 
he  water  above  described,  where  the  city 
onstructed  a platform  sufficient  to  accom- 
modate one  of  the  hand  engines  of  that  pe 
iod  and  its  company  in  actual  service. 

About  1846  the  Housatonic  Bailroad  com- 
>any  removed  their  depot  both  for  passengor 
nd  freight  from  near  Fairfield  avenue  south- 
rly  to  a point  near  the  present  elevator.  A 
aw  years  thereafter,  having  fillei  and  made 
olid  ground  of  the  mud  flats  still  further 
outh  they  put  up  a round  house,  and  other 
ecessary  shops  end  buildings  thereon  and 
withdrew  from  “Porter’s  point.”  The  old 
ugine  house  and  the  long  car  house  remain— 

1 on  the  promises  for  many  years,  also  a 
lacksmith  business  by  Mr.  Hunt  from  Falls 
illage,  Ct.— a relative  of  Superintendent 


Charles  Hunt  of  the  Housatonic  Railroad. 
The  Vetetan  blacksmith.  Mr.  J.  C.  Barnum, 
also  had  his  shop  here  for  many  years  until 
his  death,  Feb.  25,  1883,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
80  years. 

BOILER  WORKS. 

In  1869  “The  Bridgeport  Boiler  Works” 
commenced  operations  on  the  Point, 
utilizing  some  of  the  old  build- 
ings, and  erecting  others.  This  company  em- 
braced the  following  names : Humphrey, 

Watson,  Farrel  and  Chatfield. 

In  1870,  Messrs.  Farrel  and  Chatfield  retir- 
ed, and  the  business  was  continued  by  Hum- 
phrey & Watson, until  1872,  when  Mr.  William 
Lowe  took  the  place  of  Mr.  Humohrey. 
Messrs.  Lowe  and  Watson  continued  the  boil- 
er business  very  successfully  for  ten  years, 
until  they  were  burned  out,  April  24,  1882, 
As  they  were  unable  to  secure  a lease  of  the 
premises,  for  a term  of  years,  Messrs.  Lowe 
& Watson  obtained  another  location  on  the 
premises  of  Mr.  William  H.  Perry,  adjoining 
the  Housatonic  Railroad  track,  further  north. 

The  late  Mr.  Hanford  Lyon  purchased  the 
water  front  of  a portion  ot  this  property,  and 
improved  it,  in  connection  with  that  he  pre- 
viously owned,  adjoining  it  on  the  south. 
This  has  been  occupied  as  a coal  yard  by  C. 
M.  Noble  & Co.,  and  by  Courtland  Kelsey,  and 
is  now  a part  of  the  extensive  yards  of  Messrs, 
Miller  & Strickland. 

Mr.  J ulius  Hawley  purchased  of  the  Bur- 
roughs family,  the  Edwards’  property,  on 
the  south  side  of  Gold  street,  extending  to 
the  channel  of  the  harbor,  which  he  has  im- 
proved, and  upon  which  is  located  the  exten- 
sive lumber  yards  and  steam  saw  mill  of  the 
Bridgeport  Lumber  company. 

Messrs.  H.  N.  and  A.  J.  Beardsley  pur- 
chased the  water  front  of  Mr.  Abel  Drew, 
which  carried  one  half  the  width  of  Gold 
street,  form  the  east  side  of  the  tracks  of  the 
Consolidated  railroads  to  the  channel,  which 
they  are  leisurely  filling  and  will  become  a 
very  valuable  property. 

The  Housatonic  Railroad  Co.,  have  here  a 
fine  property  partly  mud  flats  which  they 
will  no  doubt  fill  to  the  harbor  lines,  at  no 
distant  day.  This  done,  it  will  afford  room 
for  the  return  to  this  point  of  their  engine 
houes  &c.— thus  relieving  the  crowded  condi- 
tion in  their  present  locality  and  facilitating 
the  removal  of  the  tracks  of  the  Consolidated 
road  from  lower  Water  street,  an  end  most 
devoutly  to  be  desired. 

The  whole  plot,  much  of  it  forty  years  ago 
so  quiet  and  so  pleasant  for  family  homes  of 
the  best  sort,  is  now  almost  wholly  given 
over  to  business - the  canvas  of  which  1 leave 
to  the  future. 


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Historical  Society 


Bridgeport,  Conn., 


for  4891-2. 


Return  this  book  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below. 


University  of  Illinois  Library 


ftps  2«19:; 


JUN 

JUN 


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'5W  1IPR»»Y  OF  THE 

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Annual  Report 


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Fairfield  @ounty 

Historical  Society 

Bridgeport,  Conn., 

for  4891-2. 


Jp.tfolisrieci  Ipy 

Fairfield  County  Historical  Society, 

1899, 


The 


BARNUM  INSTITUTE  OF  SCIENCE  AND  HISTORY. 


9c  u 

FA  ( 

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CONTENTS. 


Barnum  Institute  (illustration,)  - III — 

Officers  of  the  Society,  - YII — 

Report  of  the  Executive  Committee,  - - - IX — 

Sketch  of  Rev.  Blackleacli  Burritt,  - - - 1 — 44 

The  Pilgrim  Fathers,  and  what  they  Wrought  - 45 — 61 

Inscriptions  in  the  Cemetery  at  Easton,  Conn.  - G3 — 93 

Ancient  Stratford  Patent  or  Charter,  - - 95 — 97 

“Extracts”  P.  T.  Barnum’s  Will  and  Codicils') 

de  Barnum  Institute,  j 98 — 100 

Original  Articles  of  Association,  - - 101 

Act  of  Incorporation,  ------  102 — 103 

By-Laws, - 104 — 106 

List  of  Members  and  Residence,  - - - 107 — 109 

Honorary  Members,  - - - - - 110 

Members  Deceased, 110 

Necrology,  --------  111 — 11G 

Chart  of  American  Revolution,  - - - - 118 


OFFICERS. 


OF  THE 


FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


PRESIDENT, 

HOWLAND  B.  LACEY. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS, 

% 

GEORGE  C.  WALDO,  CHARLES  BURR  TODD, 

GEN.  WILLIAM  H.  NOBLE. 

RECORDING  SECRETARY, 

SAMUEL  ORCUTT. 

CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY, 

ALBERT  M.  TALLMADGE. 


TREASURER  AND  CURATOR, 


EDWARD  DEACON. 


IX 


THE  FAIRFIELD  COUNTY 

HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


Report  of  the  Executive  Committee  for  1891-2. 


The  special  and  most  noteworthy  feature  of  the  year 
1891-2,  in  connection  with  our  Society  is,  the  commencement 
and  progress  of  the  building  now  being  erected  for  the  kin- 
dred societies — The  Bridgeport  Scientific  Society,  and  The 
Fairfield  County  Historical  Society;  dedicated  to  Science 
and  History,  as  provided  by  our  distinguished  and  public 
spirited  fellow  citizen,  the  late  Hon.  P.  T.  Barnum. 

The  year  is  memorable  also  as  marking  the  close  of  the  life 
work  of  this  distinguished  man,  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
our  country  has  produced. 

PHINEAS  T.  BARNUM, 

Born  July  5,  1810,  Died  April  7,  1891. 

Some  fitting  words  are  spoken  of  him  in  another  place.  A 
full  account  of  his  best  monument  now  being  erected,  for  the 
promotion  of  Science  and  History,  will  be  in  order  when  the 
building  is  completed. 

For  years  we  have  been  saying — as  we  deeply  felt — that 
our  great  need  was  a suitable  building  for  the  safe  deposit  of 
the  valuable  books,  documents,  pictures  and  relics  donated, 
and  waiting  to  be  donated,  to  illustrate  and  perpetuate  our 
early  and  current  history — where  they  could  be  properly 
arranged  for  exhibition,  study  and  preservation.  Our  previ- 
ous reports  have  chronicled  the  first  movements  of  Mr.  Bar- 
num towards  supplying  this  want,  in  giving  our  Societies  an 
elligible  site  and  providing  in  his  will  (as  a matter  of  pre- 


X 


caution)  for  the  erection  of  a suitable  building.  This  was 
highly  appreciated  and  gratefully  acknowledged,  while  we 
strongly  hoped  and  confidently  believed  that  he  would  elect 
to  have  the  work  of  construction  done  in  his  life  time.  This 
hope  and  belief  is  partially  realized  in  that  Mr.  Barnum  did 
decide  to  erect  the  building,  approved  the  plans,  and  signed 
the  contract  for  the  noble  structure  now  in  progress  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Gilbert  streets,  but  was  not  permitted 
personal  supervision  of  its  erection.  So  well  did  he  plan, 
however,  that  thereby  it  may  be  truthfully  said,  being  dead 
he  yet  speaketli,  and  will  continue  to,  for  a long  time  to  come. 

At  the  breaking  up  of  the  Waldemere  residence,  Mr.  Bar- 
num gave  this  Society  the  unique  library  set  of  furniture, 
consisting  of  large  book  case,  writing  desk,  two  tables,  sofa, 
easy  chair  and  five  other  chairs.  It  is  of  curled  maple  in 
uniform  style,  of  elaborate  Chinese  carving,  and  the  sofa  and 
chairs  elegantly  upholstered. 

This  set  is  historic,  in  that  it  was  originally  made  for,  and 
used  in  Iranistan*.  It  was  saved  from  the  fire  which  de- 
stroyed the  first  elegant  home  of  Mr.  Barnum,  in  Bridgeport, 
and  was  successively  installed  in  Lindencroft  and  Waldemere, 
his  later  residences. 

It  has  been  the  study  of  this  society  to  locate  and  fit  up 
appropriately  a room  in  the  new  building,  for  the  proper  re- 
ception and  use  of  this  furniture,  where  may  also  be  located 
the  marble  bust  of  Jenny  Lind,  and  other  mementoes  of  Mr. 
Barnum  and  his  life  work,  making  it  distinctively  a Barnum 
room. 

We  recognize  that  the  support  of  such  a building,  and  the 
proper  work  of  the  Societies,  even  by  the  combined  energies 
of  the  two,  on  a scale  commensurate  with  its  importance  and 

* Iranistan,  the  first  elegant  residence  of  Mr.  Barnum  in  Bridgeport,  located  on 
extensive  grounds  at  what  is  now  the  northwest  corner  of  Fairfield  and  Iranistan  ave- 
nues, built  in  1847-8,  was  destroyed  by  fire  Dec.  18.  1837.  Most  of  the  furniture  and 
effects  in  the  house  were  saved,  much  of  it  in  a damaged  condition.  The  building  was 
a total  loss,  and  so  far  as  known,  this  Society  has  the  only  vestage  of  it  extant.  On 
the  spandrils  of  the  arches  across  the  front,  were  placed  facial  carvings  of  ancient 
characters  in  mirthful  mood,  or  otherwise.  During  the  progress  of  the  fire,  one  of  these 
carvings  became  detached,  and  was  lying  on  the  ground.  It  was  picked  up  by  Mr.  N. 
H.  Jones,  then  a boy,  who  very  properly  appealed  to  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Fire 
Department  in  charge,  (the  late  Isaac  M.  Conkling)  for  liberty  to  take  it  away.  He 
replied,  “ Yes,  take  it  along  and  get  out  of  the  way,  quick.”  He  did  so,  and  kept  his 
relic  until  1887,  when  he  turned  it  over  to  the  Historical  Society,  where  it  is  relig- 
iously preserved  as  a memento  of  the  once  famous  Oriental  Villa,  as  its  name  signifies. 


XI 


the  possibilities,  presents  a problem  quite  formidable  to  a 
weak  faith.  We  have  heretofore  said  that  if  a building  is 
provided,  the  means  for  its  support  would  be  forthcoming. 
This  we  believe  still.  The  work  of  our  Society  is  compara- 
tively but  little  known,  or  appreciated,  by  the  people  at 
large.  It  will  be  more  and  more  appreciated  as  it  is  devel- 
oped. We  have  been  quietly  employed  for  seven  or  eight 
years,  gathering  materials  and  laying  it  by  in  our  owTn  pos- 
session, or  in  the  custody  of  friends,  doing  what  we  could 
with  our  means  and  opportunities,  and  we  take  satisfaction 
in  referring  to  the  results,  and  the  strength  and  solidity  of 
our  position  to-day.  We  have  not  gone  beyond  our  means, 
nor  have  we  made  any  special  appeals  to  the  generosity  of 
our  citizens,  beyond  the  pittiance  of  one  and  two  dollars  in 
annual  dues.  Yet  we  have  paid  our  bills  and  have  a fair  bal- 
ance in  our  treasury,  and  we  have  to-day  a literature  to  be 
proud  of.  Our  reports  and  papers  contributed  and  read — 
all  most  valuable,  many  of  them  of  remarkable  interest? 
would  make  two  good  volumes  of  six  or  seven  hundred  pages 
each.  We  have  ancient  records  and  relics  of  exceeding 
value.  This  is  beginning  to  be  known  by  many  inquirers  in 
Colonial  History,  and  Family  Genealogy,  who  have  visited 
our  rooms  and  been  greatly  helped  by  the  facilities  wre  have 
afforded  them.  Parties  have  come  here,  or  corresponded 
from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  the  applications  increase 
year  by  year. 

SONS  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 

This  Society  has  special  facilities  for  aiding  decendants  of 
Revolutionary  Soldiers  in  preparing  applications  for  member- 
ship in  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution, 
of  which  large  numbers  have  availed  themselves. 

OUR  PUBLICATION  FOR  1891-2 

will  be  one  of  unusual  interest,  containing  (from  the  papers 
read  during  the  year)  the  Burritt  Paper  of  M.  D.  Raymond, 
and  the  paper  on  the  “ Pilgrim  Fathers  and  What  They 
Wrought,”  by  Rev.  Dr.  C.  R.  Palmer.  It  will  also  contain  a 
complete  transcript  of  all  the  inscriptions  on  the  tombstones 


in  the  cemetery  in  Easton,  near  the  Baptist  church,  embrac- 
ing dates  from  1760  to  the  present  time.  This  work  of  col- 
lecting and  recording  or  publishing  the  inscriptions  of  the 
ancient  and  older  burial  grounds,  was  commenced  and  fairly 
prosecuted  by  Mr.  Orcutt,  in  his  History  of  Old  Stratford 
and  Bridgeport,  and  for  preservation  and  reference  is  of 
great  value.  It  is  one  of  the  lines  of  work  we  desire  to  fol- 
low up  until  the  cemeteries  of  the  entire  county  have  been 
canvassed  and  recorded. 

OLD  CHURCH  RECORDS 

Our  Society  has  the  transcript  in  alphabetical  order,  of  the 
marriages,  births  or  baptisms  of  children,  and  membership 
of  several  among  the  oldest  churches  of  the  county,  which 
are  found  to  be  of  great  interest  and  value  for  reference  and 
study,  and  opens  a line  of  work  which  also  should  be  followed 
up  throughout  the  county. 

ABSTRACT  OF  ANCIENT  WILLS  AND  FAMILY  DEEDS. 

Still  another  field  very  fruitful  and  interesting  is  in  the 
ancient  Probate  records  and  land  records  of  the  oldest  towns 
— where  are  found  wills  and  family  deeds  of  great  historic 
and  genealogical  value.  We  want,  and  would  be  glad  to  col- 
lect and  publish  a volume  made  up  of  copious  abstracts  of 
tliees,  and  the  State  should  bear  the  expense,  as  it  has  of  other 
Colonial  records. 

BRANCH  SOCIETIES. 

The  foregoing  indicates  appropriate  work  for  branch  so- 
cieties in  nearly  every  town,  in  which  they  may  become 
greatly  helpful  to  the  County  Society.  There  are  several 
such  in  existence.  Only  one  has  organized  as  auxiliary  to 
this  Society,  that  is  the  New  Canaan  Society,  which  is  fully 
alive  and  has  an  excellent  record  of  work  done  and  doing. 
The  President  visited  and  attended  one  of  its  meetings  in 
October  last  by  invitation,  and  with  much  satisfaction.  It 
has  a good  room  furnished  by  loan  and  gift,  in  Colonial  style. 
The  monthly  meetings  are  well  attended  and  enriched  by 
valuable  papers,  conversations  and  reports.  Gentlemen  and 
ladies,  in  about  equal  numbers  gather  and  equally  participate 


XIII 


in  the  active  work,  A very  copious  and  valuable  history  of 
the  Canaan  Parish,  and  the  town  of  New  Canaan  has  been 
prepared  and  a copy  lodged  with  this  Society.  We  are  also 
indebted  to  it  for  a number  of  contributions  to  our  museum 
and  library.  We  refer  to  this  with  satisfaction  on  its  merits, 
and  as  an  example  to  other  towns.  Copies  of  all  historic 
and  genealogical  papers  should  be  furnished  the  County  Soci- 
ety, which  in  turn  will  furnish  the  Branches,  with  copies 
of  its  published  reports. 

We  are  glad  to  mention  that  Westport  has  an  active  Soci- 
ety, and  the  occasional  notices  published,  indicate  that  it 
it  is  doing  a good  work.  We  shall  be  glad  to  be  brought 
into  closer  relations  with  it. 

CATALOGUE. 

A commencement  has  been  made  by  the  Curator  at  a class- 
ification and  catalogue  of  our  library,  which  consists  of  over 
two  thousand  volumes,  about  five  hundred  pamphlets  bound 
and  unbound,  one  hundred  volumes  of  local  newspapers  of 
the  last  twenty  years,  and  a large  collection  of  local  and  oth- 
er newspapers,  dating  from  1780  to  1850,  the  New  York  Ob- 
server from  1834  to  1891,  the  London  Spectator  and  other 
magazines  unbound. 

A catalogue  of  our  specimens  of  Colonial  furniture  and 
utensels,  relics  of  the  olden  and  more  modern  times,  will  be 
made  as  early  as  possible,  and  will  be  very  interesting. 
Very  interesting  and  valuable  additions  have  been  made  to 
both  library  and  museum,  during  the  past  year. 

SITE  OF  lee’s  CHAPEL  MARKED. 

At  the  late  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  New  England, 
(1889)  much  interest  centered  around  Lee’s  Chapel,  under- 
stood to  have  been  the  first  building  erected  for  public  wor- 
ship by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination  in  New 
England.  It  was  erected  in  1796,  and  was  located  in 
the  Old  Stratfield  Parish,  on  the  line  road  dividing  Strat- 
ford town  from  Fairfield,  now  Park  Avenue  Extension, 
about  three  and  one-fourth  miles  north  of  North  Avenue,  or 
about  five  rods  above  the  southern  boundary  of  the  present 


XIV 


town  of  Trumbull.  Its  construction  was  promoted  by  Rev. 
Jesse  Lee,  whose  pioneer  work  in  this  region  is  sketchd  in 
Orcutt’s  History  of  Old  Stratford  and  Bridgeport,  pages  442, 
658,  and  661*.  At  the  period  above  referred  to,  (1889),  Mrs, 
Laura  Hall,  the  widow  of  the  late  Mr.  Turney  Hall,  was  liv- 
ing with  her  son  Mr.  Nelson  T.  Hall,  in  her  old  homestead 
near  the  above  site,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  but  in  full 
possession  of  her  faculties.  She  was  born  and  reared  in  the 
aforesaid  old  homestead,  and  in  her  girlhood  was  perfectly 
familiar  with  the  chapel  building,  both  exterior  and  interior, 
and  was  able  to  describe  it  to  her  son,  who  made  a drawing  of 
it  for  the  use  of  the  Conference,  on  the  Centennial  occasion. 
It  was  drawn  to  scale,  as  to  size  and  proportion,  34x24  feet, 
and  was  recognized  by  Mrs.  Hall  and  others  of  the  small 
remnant  who  had  seen  the  original,  as  a good  representation 
of  it.  The  figures  of  the  size  are  verified  by  an  examination 
of  the  main  timbers  of  the  frame  which  are  extant  in  the 
barn  of  Mr.  Frank  Staples,  on  the  Easton  turnpike,  near  the 
Flat  Rock  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Hall  made  a duplicate  of  his 
picture  for  Rev.  Dr.  George  Lansing  Taylor,  of  the  New  York 
East  Conference,  but  the  original  is  framed  and  hung  in  his 
own  parlor.  During  the  past  year  Mr.  Hall  on  solicitation, 
consented  to  make  another  copy  of  the  Old  Chapel  picture 
for  the  Historical  Society,  in  which  he  has  outdone  his  former 
efforts,  and  we  hope  to  secure  from  Mr.  Staples  enough  tim- 
ber from  one  of  the  white  oak  beams  in  his  barn  to  frame  it. 
The  President  of  the  Historical  Society  has  had  a substantial 
brown  stone  block  of  suitable  size  inscribed  “ Site  of  Lee’s 
Chapel  1796,”  located  by  Mr.  Hall,  and  placed  securely  in  the 
stone  fence  precisely  over  the  spot  where  the  chapel  stood. 
Lee’s  chapel  was  removed  about  1816,  and  its  supporters 
merged  into  the  present  Easton  Church  at  Flat  Rock. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Twenty-five  have  been  added  to  our  membership,  making 
our  total  over  one  hundred  after  deducting  our  losses  by 
death.  With  the  prospect  of  our  early  occupancy  of  the  new 

* See  also  Rev  George  Lansing  Taylor,  I).  D.’s  Centennial  sermpn  at  Bridgeport, 
Sept.  26,  1889  and  accompanying  papers. 


XV 


building  it  should  at  once  be  doubled.  We  bespeak  the 
favorable  consideration  of  our  fellow  citizens  in  our  effort  in 
that  direction. 

As  we  enter  upon  a new  period  in  the  history  of  our  Socie- 
ty, may  it  be  with  new  life  and  vigor — old  friends  and  new 
vieiim  with  each  other,  in  efforts  in  behalf  of  its  noble  work 
of  gathering  up  and  preserving  the  history  of  the  past,  also 
to  fix  and  transmit  to  posterity  the  present  and  passing. 

Our  Home  is  Fairfield  County  Connecticut.  Our  Field 
is  the  World. 

MAINTENANCE  OF  BUILDING  ASSURED  FOR  THREE  YEARS. 

Since  the  printing  of  this  Annual  was  commenced,  a plan 
has  been  approved  by  our  two  Societies  for  raising  a fund  to 
provide  for  the  expenses  of  the  maintenance  of  the  new  build- 
ing by  securing  undividual  pledges  amounting  to  twenty-five 
hundred  dollars  per  year,  for  three  years.  Of  this  sum,  Mrs. 
P.  T.  Barnum  has  generously  and  nobly  pledged  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  per  year,  for  three  years,  and  we  cannot  omit 
here  a recognition  of  her  free,  voluntary  and  unsolicited  gift 
for  this  worthy  object,  in  furtherance  of  her  late  husband’s 
generous  purposes.  The  two  Societies  by  their  joint  com- 
mittees are  canvassing  vigorously  with  good  encouragement 
among  our  public  spirited  citizens,  to  make  up  the  balance, 
the  success  of  which  we  cannot  doubt.  May  we  not  hope 
that  the  work  of  the  Societies  in  their  respective  depart- 
ments, will  so  commend  them  to  persons  of  means  and  gen- 
erosity, as  to  insure  gifts  for  a liberal  endowment  to  cover 
future  expenses. 


REV.  BLACKLEACH  BURRITT 

AND 

Related  Stratford  Families. 

BY 

M.  D.  RAYMOND,  ESQ- 

OF  TARRYTOWN,  N.  Y. 

READ  BEFORE  THE 

Fairfield.  County  Historical  Society. 

Bridgeport,  Feb.  19,  1892. 


REV.  BLACKLEACH  BURRITT. 


It  may  seem  presumptuous  for  a resident  of  New  York  to 
appear  before  the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society  with  a 
page  of  local  history,  and  yet  is  it  not  fitting  that  Westchester 
Co.,  especially,  should  bring  some  offering  as  a tribute  to  the 
debt  it  owes,  for  ever  since  the  days  of  Wouter  Van  Twiller, 
and  William  the  Testy,  and  Antony  Van  Corlear,  who  essayed 
in  vain  with  windy  proclamations  and  his  wonderful  trumpet 
to  stop  the  inroads  of  those  terrible  Yankees,  the  peaceful 
invasion  has  been  going  on,  so  that  to  erase  the  names  of  the 
sons  of  Fairfield  from  its  annals,  would  make  a blank  on  many 
of  the  most  illustrious  pages  of  its  history.  The  son  may  well 
indeed  turn  back  and  crown  his  honored  sire  with  laurels. 

“There  be  of  them  that  have  left  a name  behind  them,  that 
their  praises  might  be  reported;  and  some  there  be  which 
have  left  no  memorial ; who  are  perished,  as  though  they  had 
never  been.” 

In  a secluded  spot  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tains is  the  unmarked  grave  of  a son  of  Stratford  whose  name 
well  deserves  to  be  illustrious  in  the  annals  of  the  County  of 
Fairfield.  A man  of  liberal  culture,  of  more  than  ordinary 
gifts,  a stalwart  Patriot  in  the  stormy  days  of  the  Revolution, 
a pioneer  preacher  of  unusual  power,  of  marked  individuality 
and  rugged  character,  of  honorable  ancestry,  and  with  numer- 
ous and  not  less  honorable  posterity,  such  a man  was  Rev. 
Blackleach  Burritt.  The  story  of  his  life  is  not  devoid  of 
interest,  and  yet  strange  to  relate,  although  here  born,  fitted 
for  college,  educated  for  the  ministry,  and  within  the  borders 
of  this  county  captured  during  the  Revolution  and  taken  to 
the  notorious  Sugar  House  Prison  in  New  York,  his  name 
appears  but  once  in  your  annals’,  in  a brief  note  in  the  history 
of  Stratford.  But  first  of  his  ancestry  : 


4 


THE  BURRITTS 

May  not  liave  had  heraldic  fame,  but  they  were  of  the  un- 
crowned Kings  of  Welshland,  whom  even  William  the  Con- 
queror did  not  find  it  easy  to  dethrone,  and  who  when  they 
sailed  away  over  the  sea  to  the  New  World  brought  with  them 
not  only  their  brave  hearts  and  brawny  arms,  but  their  indom- 
itable love  of  liberty  as  well. 

Among  those  early  of  Stratford,  were  William  Burritt  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife.  They  are  said  to  have  been  from  Glamor- 
ganshire, Wales,  but  the  exact  date  of  their  arrival  has  not 
been  ascertained  ; quite  possibly  they  had  tarried  for  a time 
somewhere  else  in  New  England  before  coming  here.  The  only 
place  wherein  William  Burritt’s  name  appears  prior  to  the  in- 
ventory of  his  estate,  date  of  January  15,  1650-1,  is  in  a mem- 
orandum of  the  number  of  rods  of  fence  the  share  of  each 
settler  to  build.  The  paper  bears  no  date,  but  was  of  course 
prior  to  his  death.  In  the  schedule  of  his  estate  he  is  spoken 
of  as  ‘‘lately  deceased.”  The  amount  of  the  inventory  was 
about  £140.  A very  moderate  heritage  for  the  widow  and  her 
children,  of  whom  there  were  three,  two  sons  and  a daughter ; 
Stephen,  John,  and  Mary,  who  is  said  to  have  married  a Smith 
at  an  early  day  and  hence  the  numerous  Smith  family  in 
America. 

The  widow,  Elizabeth  Burritt,  appears  to  have  been  a thrifty 
and  sagacious  woman,  controlling  her  own  affairs  and  ordering 
her  household  well.  Though  apparently  not  able  to  write  her 
own  name,  she  made  her  mark  all  over  the  early  town  records 
in  more  senses  than  one.  She  was  buying  more  than  selling 
and  evidently  adding  to  her  possessions.  She  apportioned 
considerable  real  estate  to  her  sons  by  conveyances  dated 
April  5,  1675,  as  follows:  “To  my  loving  and  dutiful  son, 
John  Burritt,  of  ye  said  place,  an  equal  half  of  my  whole 
accommodations  in  Stratford  aforesaid,  being  ye  allotment  and 
interest  of  my  deceased  husband,  Wm.  Burritt,  or  by  procure- 
ment of  myself  and  my  children,  excepting  only  ye  home  lot 
and  parcel  of  land  at  ye  Fresh  Pond,  in  ye  old  field,  ye  which 
has  already  been  contracted  to  Stephen  Burritt,”  one  of  which 
contractions  being  that  “ye  aforesid  John  Burritt  should  have 


the  parcel  of  land  lying  on  “ Quimby’s  Neck,”  &c.  Stephen 
Burritt  drew  lot  No.  40  in  division  of  lands  in  1671,  and  John 
Burritt  No.  84. 

Widow  Burritt  evidently  made  her  home  with  her  eldest 
son,  Stephen.  Her  will  is  dated  Sept.  2,  1681,  and  she  prob- 
ably died  soon  after. 

Stephen  Burritt,  the  eldest  son,  was  in  the  list  of  Freemen 
at  Stratford  “8tli  month,  7th  day  1669,”  a lot  owner  1671,  and 
confirmed  by  the  General  Court  as  Ensign  of  the  Train  Band 
at  Stratford  in  1672,  appointed  Lieutenant  Jan.  17,  1675,  and 
the  Council  at  Hartford,  date  of  Sept.  18,  1675,  ordered  that 
“The  Dragoones  from  Fairfield  County  being  come  up,  and 
Major  Robert  Treat  sending  to  us  to  hasten  them  to  their 
headquarters  near  Suckquackheeg,  it  has  ordered  that 
accordingly  the  Dragoones  of  Fairfield  should  forthwith 
march  away  up  to  Norwottag,  and  so  to  our  army,  under 
the  conduct  of  Ensign  Stephen  Burritt,  and  join  them  in 
defence  of  the  plantations  up  the  river,  and  to  kill  and  destroy 
all  such  Indian  enemies  as  should  assault  them  on  the  afore- 
said plantations.”  Again,  at  a meeting  of  the  Council  of  the 
Colony  held  Nov.  23,  1675,  Stephen  Burritt  was  appoint- 
ed Commissary  of  the  Army,  so  rapidly  was  he  promoted. 
No  wonder  Hinman  says,  “he  was  a noted  Indian  fight- 
er.” Evidently  a man  of  force,  courage  and  resource, 
Ensign  Stephen  Burritt  stands  out  a heroic  figure  on  the 
pages  of  the  history  of  Stratford.  He  was  not  only  a 
brave  soldier,  but  the  old  town  records  give  evidence 
that  he  was  a man  of  affairs.  At  the  Town  Meeting  held 
Jan.  1,  1673,  he  was  chosen  Recorder,  and  his  beautiful 
and  cliaracter-like  autograph  which  thereafter  frequently  ap- 
pears on  the  Town  Books,  may  well  be  the  envy  of  any  of  his 
descendants.  In  1689  he  was  appointed  on  a committee  to 
assess  damages  for  the  changing  of  Black  Creek  into  Mill 
River,  by  which  one  Robert  Lane  claimed  to  have  been  “dam- 
nified!” The  same  year  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Townsmen. 
In  1690  was  an  auditor  of  the  accounts  of  the  Town  Treasurer, 
and  also  chairman  of  the  committee  on  killing  wolves.  What 
a wolf  killer  that  brave  old  Indian  fighter  must  have  been! 


6 


He  held  other  offices  of  trust,  and  was  in  his  day  one  of  the 
very  foremost  citizens  of  Stratford.  The  inventory  of  his 
estate,  dated  March  4,  1697,  shows  a footing  of  £1,177  2s* 
which  includes  £6  6s,  as  the  value  of  his  “arms  and  ammunition.’’ 
He  had  died  January  24,  1697-8,  according  to  the  old  tomb- 
stone, fortunately  still  preserved.  It  appears  that  this  ancient 
memorial  was  recently  discovered  by  Mr.  Robert  H.  Russell 
in  the  footpath  leading  from  his  house  to  his  garden.  It  was 
several  inches  under  ground,  and  about  200  feet  from  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  old  Congregational  burying  ground, 
where  it  was  doubtless  originally  placed.  It  is  believed  that 
many  years  since  it  was  taken  from  thence  by  some  vandal 
hands,  and  used  for  a time  as  a step-stone.  Mr.  T.  B.  Fair- 
child,  of  Stratford,  though  not  a descendant  or  of  kindred,  to 
his  credit  be  it  said,  caused  this  memorial  stone  to  be  returned 
and  reset. 

He  had  married,  Nov.  8,  1673,  Sarah  Nichols,  the 

daughter  of  Isaac  Nichols,  a prominent  Stratford  family,  one 
of  her  sisters  having  married  Rev.  Joseph  Webb,  and  another 
Rev.  Israel  Chauncey,  pastor  of  the  Stratford  church  from 
1665  to  1703,  who  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Yale  College, 
and  was  chosen  its  first  president,  but  declined  the  honor.  By 
this  marriage  Stephen  Burritt  had  seven  children,  as  follows : 

Elizabeth,  born  Julyl,  1675;  William,  born  March  29,  1677  ; 
(died  young,)  Peleg,  (1st)  born  Oct.  5,  1679;  Josiah,  born 
1681  ; Israel,  born  1687 ; Charles,  (1st)  born  1690 ; Ephraim, 
(1st)  born  1693. 

Peleg  Burritt  (1st)  married  Sarah  Benit,  (sic)  Dec.  5,  1705, 
and  had  issue : William,  baptized  Oct.  13,  1706 ; Daniel, 
(Bridgeport  church  records)  1708;  Sarah,  (Stratford  town 
records)  born  July  20,  1712;  Peleg,  (Jr.,)  born  Jan.  8,  1720-1. 
Peleg  Burritt,  Sr.,  of  Stratford,  deeded  lands  to  his  son 
Peleg  Jr.,  at  Ripton  Parish,  including  forty  acres  on  Walnut 
Hill,  “ excepting  only  my  own  new  dwelling  house,  ” date  of 
April  25,  1746.  He  had  sold  land  on  Snake  Brook,  to  Rich- 
ard Nichols,  April  27,  1713.  Date  of  his  death  not  ascer- 
tained. Sarah,  wife  of  Peleg,  united  with  the  church  at  Strat- 
field  in  December,  1709. 


Of  the  other  sons  of  Ensign  Stephen  Burritt,  Josiali  was 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  Newtown,  1710,  and  had  numer- 
ous descendants  there.  He  married  Mary  Peat,  March  10, 
1703,  and  had  Elizabeth,  baptized  (Bridgeport  church)  July 
23,1704;  Stephen,  baptized  (Bridgeport  church)  Feb.  10, 
1706 ; Benjamin  and  Phoebe,  (twins)  born  (Stratford  town 
records),  Jan.  29,  1708 ; William,  born  January,  1709,  all  of 
whom  were  of  Newtown.  Israel,  4th  son  of  Ensign  Stephen, 
married  Sarah  Coe,  March  4,  1719,  and  is  said  to  have  settled 
in  Durham.  Charles,  5th  son  of  Ensign  Stephen,  had  Daniel, 
Israel,  Charles  and  Elihu  (1),  who  married  and  had  among 
other  children,  Elihu  (2),  who  had  Elijah,  Elizabeth,  Emily, 
George  and  Elihu  (3),  distinguished  as  the  “ Learned  Black- 
smith,” who  was  born  at  New  Britain,  Conn.,  Dec.  8,  1811, 
and  whose  fame  is  world  wide.  Charles  Burritt  took  Free- 
man’s oath  at  Stratford  September,  1730.  He  and  Mary 
his  wife,  were  members  of  the  Stratfield  church,  1718. 
Daniel  Burritt,  son  of  Charles  and  Mary,  his  wife,  died 
prior  to  his  father,  who  by  will  dated  Jan.  23,  1761,  gave  to 
the  children  of  his  son  Daniel.  The  distribution  of  the  estate 
of  Daniel  mentions  the  widow  Comfort,  daughters,  Roxanna 
married  Richard  Hubbell  4th,  Penninah,  married  Samuel 
Brinsmade,  and  Amelia,  and  sons  Stephen,  Rollins  and  Elijah 
Burritt.  Elijah,  though  mentioned  last,  was  probably  the 
eldest,  and  probably  not  a son  of  the  widow  Comfort,  but  of 
a former  wife,  as  there  is  good  authority  for  saying — Steph- 
en was  his  half  brother.  Elijah  was  born  in  1743,  it  is  the 
family  tradition,  on  the  site  of  his  lifelong  residence,  which 
still  stands,  and  appears  good  for  another  one  hundred  years. 
He  was  a man  of  fine  form  and  presence,  six  feet  in  height,  of 
uniformly  good  health,  never  sick  until  the  last  year  of  his 
life.  He  died  Sep.  23,  1841,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
eight  years  and  six  months.  His  life  was  one  of  great  activi- 
ty, his  business  embracing  blacksmithing,  buckskin  leather 
dressing,  and  cooperage,  as  well  as  farming.  He  was  over- 
seer and  agent  for  the  Golden  Hill  Indians  from  A.  D.,  1812 
to  1834,  at  a period  when  their  numbers  comprised  quite  a 


8 


bind.  This  rendered  the  distribution  of  the  income  of  their 
small  fund  both  delicate  and  difficult.  By  them  he  was 
looked  up  to  as  a father.  He  was  a man  of  high  character 
and  intelligence,  of  the  strictest  integrity  and  religiously  a 
strong  Churchman.  He  retained  his  faculties  unimpaired  in 
a remarkable  degree  until  the  last,  and  from  his  intelligence 
and  long  life,  he  occupies  in  local  history  a peculiar  position. 
In  his  younger  years  he  was  acquainted  with  the  men  and 
events  of  the  earliest  period.  In  his  latest  years,  he  reached 
down,  and  communicated  his  knowledge  to  men  now  living. 

Isaac  Sherman,  Esq.,  sa}rs  : “ It  was  from  him,  (Mr.  Bur- 
ritt)  that  I derived  much  of  the  information  I possess  relative 
to  the  early  settlers  of  Stratfield,”  (now  Bridgeport),  and 
which  he  has  so  well  transmitted  in  his  published  recollec- 
tions. 

Elijah  Burritt  was  thrice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah 
Hall,  daughter  of  John  Hall,  Stratfield,  by  whom  he  had  one 
son  and  five  daughters,  viz ; 

1.  Daniel,  merchant,  Bridgeport,  known  as  Colonel  Burritt, 
unmarried. 

2.  Comfort,  died  young. 

3.  Ann,  married  Ephraim  Wheeler  Sherman,  and  had  issue, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

4.  Hannah,  married  Silas  Shelton,  of  Huntington,  and  had 
issue,  two  sons  five  daughters.* 

5.  Mercy,  married  Captain  James  Fayerweather,  of  Bridge- 
port. 

G.  Phoebe,  married  Captain  Samuel  Hawley,  No.  2,335  in 
the  Hawley  family  record. 

* — Of  these  daughters,  Elizabeth  was  a member  of  the  family  of  her  gi'andfather 
Burritt  until  her  marriage  to  Captain  George  Lafleld.  Their  children  are  Harriet,  mar- 
ried Dr.  Joseph  S.  French,  Charles  Howard,  married  Susan  Lobdell,  Mary  Burritt, 
married  Edwin  J.  Nettleton.  Another  daughter  Harriet,  married  Henry  Bassett,  and 
had  one  son,  Frank  H.,  who  with  his  mother  now  own  and  occupy  the  old  homestead 
of  her  Grandfather  Burritt,  Mrs.  Lafleld,  aged  seventy-eight  years,  and  Mrs.  Bassett, 
aged  seventy-five  years,  were  able  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Historical  Society, 
Feb.  19,  1892,  and  listened  with  much  interest  to  the  reading  of  this  paper.  The  oldest 
daughter,  Mary  Shelton,  who  married  Mr.  F.  Huge,  was  also  represented  by  her  daugh- 
ter, Mary  Burritt,  who  by  contributions  of  her  pen  and  pencil  illustrates  and  perpetu- 
ates the  history  of  the  Ancestral  Home  which  was  erected  in  1783,  on  the  site  occupied 
by  Mr.  Daniel  Burritt,  father  of  Elijah.  A crayon  picture  of  this  house  made  by 
Mary  Burritt  Huge  is  hung  upon  the  walls  of  the  Historical  Society,  as  a companion 
piece  to  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Burritt,  painted  by  Edwin  White,  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  T. 
Nichols.  Mr.  Nichols  who  was  the  survivor,  at  his  death  directed  it  given  to  the  His- 
torical Society.  R.  B.  L.,  Feb.  1892. 


9 


Mr.  Burritt  married  second,  Sarah  Fairchild,  of  Redding, 
Conn.  Her  only  child  was 

7.  Mary,  married  Barak  T.  Nichols. 

His  third  marriage  was  to  Sarah  (Chappell)  McLean.  She 
had  by  her  first  marriage.  Hr.  John  McLean,  physician,  Nor- 
walk, Conn.,  and  Sarah,  who  married  George  Wade,  Bridge- 
port. 

Stephen  Burritt,  son  of  Daniel,  and  half  brother  to  Elijah 
Burritt,  had  his  residence  on  Old  Mill  Green  near  the  Mill 
Pond.  He  married  Hannah  Platt  Avery,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Elisha  Avery, of  Norwalk,  Conn.,  and  cousin  of  John  S.  Avery* 
and  had  Charlotte  C.,  born  1797,  died  Aug.  8,  1837 ; Mary 
Ann,  born  1799,  died  Dec.  21,  1820  ; and  Stephen  Elisha 
Avery,  born  Nov.  8,  1804,  died  April  1825.  Stephen  Bur- 
ritt died  1815,  aged  sixty-two  years ; Hannah,  his  wife,  died 
Oct.  25,  1843,  aged  eighty  years.  The  children  were  all  un- 
married, and  the  grave  marks  of  the  entire  family  stand 
together  in  Pembroke  cemetery. 

Stephen  Elisha  Avery  Burritt  appears  to  have  been  a very 
bright  and  promising  young  man.  He  was  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  the  class  of  1824,  when  but  nineteen  years  old.  A 
class  album  of  his,  of  remarkable  interest,  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society,  donated  by  J. 
N.  Ireland,  Esq.  The  original  contributions  and  selections 
show  a high  appreciation  of  young  Burritt,  and  bear  the  sig- 
natures of  such  men  as  Judge  Origen  Storrs  Seymour,  Hon. 
Eliplialet  T.  Bulkeley,  father  of  Governor  Morgan  G.  Bulke- 
ley,  Linus  Child,  Ebenezer  Jessup,  Dr.  Jeremiah  T.  Dennison, 
Benjamin  D.  Stillman,  Esq.,  New  York ; Hamilton  Murray, 
New  York  ; Dr.  Frederick  J.  Judson  and  Henry  D.  Sterl- 
ing, (brother  of  Hon.  D.  H.  Sterling,)  of  Bridgeport,  and 
others  of  equal  standing. 

Ephraim’s  children  were  Eunice,  Mirth  a,  Mary,  Ephraim, 
Jr  , Stephen,  William,  Abel  and  Lewis. 

Daniel  Burritt,  son  of  Stephen,  who  was  a son  of  Josiah, 
son  of  Ensign  Stephen,  probably  married  Sarah  Collins,  at 
New  Milford,  Feb.  8,  1756,  and  lived  at  Arlington,  YTt.,  for 


*Note.— John  S.  Avery  occupied  the  Stephen  Burritt  place  about  1840. 


10 


§Ome  years  prior  to  the  Revolution,  when,  being  a Loyalist, 
ha  went  to  Canada  and  settled  at  Augusta,  near  Prescott, 
where  he  died  aged  ninetj'-three.  Of  his  sons,  Adoniram 
lived  to  be  ninety-eight,  Stephen,  eighty-four,  Daniel,  Jr., 
eighty-seven,  and  Major  upwards  of  ninety;  a daughter,  Lois 
lived  to  be  ninety-three.  Whether  Toryism  had  anything  to 
do  with  this  extraordinary  longevity  is  not  recorded.  Per- 
haps it  was  to  give  time  for  repentance.  But  there  were 
many  patriots  among  the  Burritts,  some  of  whom  lived  to  be 
aged.  Among  those  whose  names  appear  on  the  list  of  Rev- 
olutionary soldiers  in  Connecticut  are  John,  Philip,  Abijah, 
Anthony,  Charles,  Elihu,  Israel,  Nathan,  Abel,  Eben,  Stephen, 
William  Burritt  and  others.  Israel  Burritt  was  from  New 
Milford,  and  was  commissioned  as  Lieutenant.  Andrew  Bur- 
ritt, born  1741,  who  married  Eunice  Wells,  Jan.  27,  17G3,  and 
was  the  great-grandfather  of  Oscar  C.  Burritt,  of  Hydeville, 
Vt.,  is  also  said  to  have  been  engaged  in  the  Revolution. 
Some  of  the  descendants  of  the  daughters  of  the  above  Daniel 
Burritt,  still  reside  at  Arlington,  Yt. 

John  Burritt,  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth,  and  the  young- 
er brother  of  Ensign  Stephen,  as  appears  in  the  Stratford 
records  was  a lot  owner  as  early  as  1671.  He  married  Debo- 
rah Barley,  or  Barlow,  May  1,  1684,  and  had  a son  Joseph, 
born  March  12, 1685,  as  the  records  show.  Although  Savage 
says  in  his  Genealogical  notes  that  John  was  unmarried,  he 
appears  to  have  been  twice  married,  his  second  marriage 
having  been  with  Hannah  Fairchild,  date  of  May  5,  1708.  It 
is  claimed  that  he  had  a son  John,  but  that  is  doubtful, 
for  Joseph  is  named  as  Administrator,  and  as  sole  heir  of  his 
father’s  estate,  date  of  Oct.  3,  1727,  the  will  having  been 
filed  Feb.  17,  1726-7.  The  inventory  of  the  estate  amounted 
to  £1754.9sld.  Joseph  Burritt  made  his  will  March  10,  1750; 
left  widow  Mary,  sons  William,  John,  Nathan,  Samuel,  daugh- 
ters Deborah,  wife  of  Jonas  Thompson,  Hannah,  wife  of  Isaac 
Beach  ; also  had  Mary,  born  Sep.  22,  1721,  and  Ebenezer, 
born  Dec.  18,  1728.  This  Joseph  Burritt,  son  of  John,  was 
probably  the  ancestor  of  Joseph  Burritt,  born  in  Stratford  in 
1758,  who  married  Sarah  Ufford,  and  was  the  father  of  Joseph 


il 


Burritt,  Jr.*  who  died  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  in  1888,  aged  ninety^ 
four.  He  had  married  Asenath  Curtiss,  of  Stratford,  June 
17,  1816,  and  left  many  descendants. 

Peleg  Burritt,  Jr.,  born  Jan.  7,  1719-20,  married  first  (his 
second  marriage  is  elsewhere  noted)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Richard  Blackleach,  Jr.,  of  Ripton  Parish,  date  unknown,  but 
evidently  prior  to  Dec.  15,  1742,  for  on  that  date  Richard 
Blackleach,  Jr.,  conveyed  land  “ to  my  son,  Peleg  Burritt,  Jr., 
of  said  Stratford.”  He  doubtless  lived  at  Ripton  Parish. 
There  was  a daughter  born  of  this  marriage  named  Meliitabel, 
after  her  grandmother,  Mehitabel  Laboree  Burritt,  and  a son 
Blackleach  Burritt,  but  the  church  records  of  Ripton  Parish, 
prior  to  1773,  having  been  destroyed,  and  the  family  record  of 
Peleg  Burritt,  Jr.,  having  been  lost  at  the  time  of  the  Wyo- 
ming Massacre,  it  has  been  found  impossible  to  definitely 
ascertain  the  date  of  the  marriage  or  the  birth  of  either  of 
these  children.  . The  birth  of  Blackleach  Burritt  has  been 
placed  by  some  as  early  as  1740,  but  as  his  father  was  then 
scarcely  twenty  j7ears  of  age,  it  cannot  be  taken  as  even  ap- 
propriately correct,  especially  in  view  of  the  fact  that  his  sis- 
ter’s name  precedes  his  in  order  of  mention  in  the  will  of 
their  grandfather  Blackleach.  Probably  she  was  born  about 
1742,  and  he  about  1744.  As  will  be  noticed  he  was  cotempo- 
rary with  the  late  Elijah  Burritt,  of  Stratford,  and  not  dis- 
tantly related  to  him. 

THE  BLACKLEACH  FAMILY. 

The  Blackleach  family  was  early  of  Connecticut,  John 
Blackleach,  Jr.,  of  Hartford,  1659,  being  perhaps  the  grand- 
father of  Richard,  Jr.  Richard  Sr.,  was  of  Stratford  as  soon 
as  1676 ; was  a merchant,  and  is  called  Richard  Blackleach, 
gentleman.  In  1698,  in  the  prosecution  of  his  business,  he 
was  plaintiff  in  a suit  against  Mr.  William  Hoadley,  merchant, 
of  Branford,  concerning  some  Negro  Slaves  delivered  by  him 
to  the  said  Hoadley,  to  be  paid  for  in  corn,  which  was  in  the 
courts  for  several  years,  but  in  which  he  was  finally  successful. 
He  was  a high  Churchman,  but  instead  of  carrying  the  Gospel 
to  the  Heathen  on  “Afric’s  golden  sands,”  he  evidently 
brought  the  Heathen  to  the  Gospel ! This  experiment  of  his 


12 


in  tlie  way  of  Evangelization,  is  in  striking  contrast  with  an 
earlier  fact  recorded  of  John  Blackleach,  (probably  his  father) 
who  kept  the  ferry  over  the  Housatonic  river  between  Stratford 
and  Milford,  who  in  1669,  petitioned  to  be  allowed  to  make 
known  to  the  Indians,  as  he  should  have  opportunity,  “ some- 
thing of  the  knowledge  of  God.”  Richard  Blackleach,  Sr., 
died  in  1731,  aged  seventy-six  years. 

Richard  Blackleach,  Jr.,  married  Mehitabel  Laboree,  prob- 
ably the  widow  of  Dr.  Laboree,  Feb.  2,  1715-16,  and  had  two 
children,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Peleg  Burritt,  Jr.,  and  Sarah, 
who  married  Mr.  Edward  Jessup  Mehitabel  Laboree  Black- 
leach died  Feb.  21,  1735.  His  wrill  made  Feb.  27,  1747,  was 
recorded  Oct.  2,  1750,  and  inventory  filed  April  28,  1751. 
The  following  is  a transcript  of  the  substance  of  it: 

“I  give  unto  Mehitabel  Burritt,  daughter  of  Peleg  Burritt, 
Jr.,  of  Stratford,  one  Silver  Cup,  two  Silver  Spoons,  together 
with  all  my  Movable  Estate,  provided  she  lives  to  ye  age  of 
eighteen  years  or  marriage ; but  if  she  die  before,  I give  said 
Movables  unto  Blackleach  Burritt,  ye  son  of  Peleg  Burritt, 
Jr.”  He  also  gave  £5  to  his  daughter  Sarah  Jessup,  wife  of 
Edward  Jessup  of  Fairfield,  and  £5  to  each  of  her  six  children. 
He  further  gave  “ unto  Blackleach  Burritt,  son  of  Peleg,  Jr., 
and  unto  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  my  land,  meadow 
and  buildings  in  said  Stratford,  being  butted  and  bounded 
as  appears  of  record.”  Ephraim  Judson  and  Daniel  Thomp- 
son were  named  as  executors,  and  were  given  authority  to 
sell  land  on  Fawn  Hill  if  necessary  to  pay  the  debts  and  be- 
quests, and  they  did  so  sell  lands  to  Peleg  Burritt,  Jr.,  date 
of  March  5,  1753.  The  total  inventory  shows  £1,051. 3s7d, 
of  which  £850  was  real  estate.  In  the  personal  property 
was  “ one  Silver  Cup,  holding  near  one  pint,  two  Silver  Spoons, 
and  two  dozen  Silver  Vest  Buttons,”  valued  altogether  at 
£2.9s5d.  And  these  were  for  Mehitabel,  and  something  of 
personal  property  besides;  quite  a dower.  Little  is  handed 
down  in  regard  to  this  young  lady,  and  it  is  not  known 
whether  or  not  she  married.  She  is  said  to  have  been  very 
handsome,  and  of  a somewhat  mercurial  disposition. 

The  probate  records  of  Fairfield  show  the  final  settlement 


13 


of  the  estate  of  Kichard  Blackleach  to  have  taken  place  in 
1758.  The  debits  include  a charge  for  going  to  Green’s 
Farms  to  pay  the  bequests  to  Mrs.  Edward  Jessup  and  her 
children,  and  £16  paid  out  by  the  executors  for  the  expenses 
involved  in  a law  suit,  the  records  of  which  considerable  re- 
search failed  to  disclose. 

And  so  the  lad  Blackleach  Burritt  was  made  the  heir  to 
quite  an  estate,  the  disposition  of  which,  however,  does  not 
fully  appear.  Nothing  notable  is  known  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  except  the  stories  of  his  acrobatic  performances  on  the 
roofs  of  buildings  which  he  seemed  to  delight  in,  to  the  terror 
of  his  step-mother,  to  whom  he  is  said  to  have  been  much 
attached.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  been  the  traditional 
goody,  goody  boy.  who  is  expected  to  die  young,  but  he  had  the 
timber  in  him  that  men  are  made  of.  Aspiring  after  an  educa- 
tion, he  entered  Yale  College,  where  he  graduated,  as  his 
still  well  preserved  diploma,  an  ancient  parchment  testifies, 
in  the  class  of  1765.  An  exciting  incident  of  his  college  life 
was  the  celebrated  case  of  the  poisoning  of  a large  number 
of  the  students.  In  answer  to  recent  inquiry,  Professor 
Dexter,  of  Yale,  gives  the  following  version  of  the  affair  : 

“The  mysterious  sickness  at  College  occurred  on  April  14, 
1764.  A common  rumor  at  the  time,  and  later,  imputed  it  to 
poison  administered  by  a French  woman  employed  in  the 
College  commons ; but  the  more  reasonable  view  held  by 
President  Clapp  was,  that  some  students  that  were  rebel- 
lious against  the  food  furnished  in  the  commons,  bribed  the 
French  woman  to  put  some  strong  physic  into  the  food,  in 
the  hope  of  breaking  up  the  system.” 

In  a sketch  of  Bev.  Isaac  Lewis,  D.  D.,  who  was  a native  of 
Stratford  and  a classmate  of  Blackleach  Burritt,  which  ap- 
pears in  Sprague’s  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  that  affair  is  given  : “ At  that  time  the 

whole  College  was  poisoned  through  the  villainy  of  certain 
French  neutrals.  These  fellows  had  taken  mortal  offense  at 
the  conduct  of  a few  wild  students,”  and  they  meditated 
“ the  most  deadly  revenge.  To  accomplish  their  purpose, 
they  contrived  to  visit  the  kitchen  where  the  food  of  the  stu- 


14 


dents  was  prepared  and  infused  a large  quantity  of  arsenic 
into  one  of  the  dishes  that  was  to  be  placed  before  them.  A 
deadly  sickness  came  over  all  who  partook  of  the  food,  and  a 
few  were  so  affected  that  they  died  shortly  after.” 

Of  Blackleach  Burritt  it  is  said  that  he  was  at  that  time 
engaged  in  nursing  his  sick  churn,  Samuel  Mills.  Another 
account  says  that  he  took  a frugal  meal  of  bread  and  milk  on 
that  occasion  and  so  escaped  being  poisoned.  Samuel  Mills’ 
father,  Bev.  Jedediah  Mills,  who  was  then  and  for  many 
years  the  pastor  of  the  church  at  Bipton  Parish,  in  Stratford, 
was  preaching  in  the  pulpit  when  a messenger  arrived  from 
New  Haven,  and  went  first  up  into  the  pulpit,  and  then  to 
Captain  Burritt.  Service  was  then  dismissed,  and  both  im- 
mediately went  to  New  Haven.  All  of  which  is  of  interest  as 
leading  up  to  the  fact  that  not  long  after  this,  Whitfield  vis- 
ited New  Haven,  and  delivered  a memorable  discourse  in  the 
College  chapel,  that  is  said  to  have  led  to  a great  change  in  * 
the  current  of  Mr.  Burritt’s  life,  and  which  resulted  in  his 
uniting  with  the  church  in  Yale  College,  date  of  Feb.  3,  1765, 
and  led  to  the  consecration  of  himself  to  the  noble  work  of 
the  Christian  Ministry. 

On  graduating  he  pursued  his  theological  studies  with  his 
venerable  and  able  pastor,  Bev.  Jedediah  Mills,  of  Bipton 
Parish,  evidently  in  company  with  his  classmates  and  compan- 
ions of  his  boyhood,  Samuel  Mills  and  Isaac  Lewis,  for  at 
a meeting  of  the  Fairfield  East  Association,  as  appears 
in  the  old  records  now  in  the  possession  of  Bev.  Joel  S. 
Ives,  of  Stratford,  the  Stated  Clerk  of  that  Association,  held 
at  Danbury  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  Feb’y,  1768,  “Isaac  Lewris, 
A.  B.,  and  Blackleach  Burritt,  A.  B.,  presented  themselves 
as  Candidates  for  Examination  to  preach  the  Gospel.  Their 
credentials  being  required,  they  offered  the  following,  viz.: 
‘To  the  Bevd.  Asso’n  convened  at  Danbury.  Gent'm:  Being 

detained  by  bodily  Indisposition,  I do  hereby  signify  that 
Mr.  Lewis  and  Mr.  Burritt,  the  bearers,  wTere  sometime 
since  recommended  to  us  by  Mr.  Dagget,  Pastor  of  a 
Church  in  New-Haven,  and  are  in  Good  Standing  with  us  in 
all  things  as  beeometh  the  Gospel.  Mr.  Jedediah  Mills,  Pas- 


15 


tor,  Ripton,  Feb’y  22,  1768.’  Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morn- 
ing eleven  o’clock.  Met  according  to  adjournment  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  examination  of  the  Candidates  as  to  their 
Qualifications  for  the  Work  of  the  Ministry  and  then  ad- 
journed until  to-morrow  morning  eight  o’clock.  Met  Feb. 
24,  1768,  according  to  adjournment,  and  proceeded  to  com- 
plete the  examination  of  the  aforementioned  Candidates,  as 
to  their  Abilities  natural  & acquired,  their  Knowledge,  Doc- 
trinal and  experimental,  and  finding  them  hopefully  qualified 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry;  do  accordingly  License  them  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  and  recommend  them  to  the  Service  of  the 
Churches  wheresoever  God  in  his  providence  shall  call  them.'5 
Rev.  Jedediah  Mills,  born  1697,  was  a son  of  Peter  Mills,  of 
Windsor,  Conn.,  born  1668  ; he  graduated  at  Yale,  1722,  was 
pastor  of  Ripton  Parish  from  1723-4;  a friend  of  Whitfield, 
who  commemorates  him  in  his  journal  as  “ a dear  man  of  God.” 
He  died  in  1776,  greatly  lamented,  having  retired  from  active 
service  three  years  previously.  His  son  Samuel,  who  was  a 
classmate  of  Blackleach  Burritt,  was  for  some  time  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Bedford,  Westchester  County, 
N.  Y.  Rev.  Isaac  Lewis,  D.  D.,  the  other  classmate  referred 
to,  who  was  a native  of  Ripton  Parish,  Stratford,  was  located 
many  years  at  Wilton,  was  a Chaplain  in  the  Continental 
Army,  1776  ; and  after  the  Revolution,  was  settled  over  the 
Church  at  Old  Greenwich,  where  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt,  as  will  be 
seen,  was  for  a time  located.  He  died  Aug.  27,  1840,  in  his 
ninety-fifth  year. 

And  so  Rev.  Blackleach  Burritt  was  regulary  licensed  to 
preach.  He  had  previously  married  Martha  Wells,  daughter 
of  Gideon  and  Eunice  Wells,  of  Ripton  Parish,  at  a date  not 
known,  but  probably  soon  after  graduating  from  College,  as 
his  second  daughter  was  born  Feb.  26,  1768.  And  as  he 
not  only  so  married  a descendant  of  the  distinguished  Colonial 
Governor  of  Connecticut,  Thomas  Welles,  but  two  of  his 
daughters  were  afterwards  also  united  with  kindred  of  that 
name,  it  seems  fitting  to  here  give  a brief  lineage  of  that 
noted  family. 


16 


THE  WELLES  FAMILY 

Is  illustrious  in  the  annals  of  this  country,  but  as  the  head  of 
one  among  the  many  different  branches  which  here  appeared 
at  an  early  day,  Thomas  Welles,  the  distinguished  Colonial 
Governor  of  Connecticut,  stands  out  pre-eminent.  It  may  be 
difficult  to  trace  his  direct  connection  with  heraldic  honors, 
or  to  those  whose  names  were  inscribed  at  Battle  Abbey,  by 
order  of  William  the  Conqueror,  (the  family  tracings  go  back 
it  is  said  to  791)  but  he  was  evidently  of  good  family  and  so 
bore  himself  as  to  be  well  entitled  to  the  kingly  title  of  a 
man.  Late  investigations  indicate  that  Thomas  Welles  was 
from  Northamptonshire,  where  he  was  born  in  1598.  In  the 
English  Calendar  of  Colonial  State  Papers,  is  found,  date  of 
1635,  “Thomas  Welles  and  Elizabeth  Lis  wife  Recusant, 
(i.  e.  Non-Conformists)  in  Rothwell,  Northamptonshire.” 
Articles  of  accusation  were  drawn  up  against  him  and  he  was 
warned  to  appear  in  the  Court  of  Star  Chamber  to  answer 
charges.  He  was  admonished  to  answer  “ plene  ” under  pain 
of  being  taken  pro  confesso.  Was  then  warned  to  appear 
next  court  day  to  receive  final  judgment.  Feb.  12,  1635,  he 
had  been  ordered  sentenced.  As  he  then  disappeared  from 
Rothwell,  having  lost  all  of  his  property  by  confiscation,  he 
doubtless  at  that  time  entered  the  service  of  his  kinsman, 
Lord  Saye  and  Sele,  who  protected  all  of  the  Puritans  to  the 
best  of  his  ability. 

“In  the  year  1635,  John  Winthrop  arrived  at  Boston  with 
a commission  from  Lord  Saye  & Sele,  Lord  Brooks  and  other 
noblemen  interested  in  the  Connecticut  Patent,  to  erect  a fort 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut  river.  They  sent  men,  amu- 
nitions  and  two  thousand  pounds  sterling,  (Winthrop’s  Jour- 
nal). Early  in  1636,  Lord  Saye  & Sele,  with  his  Private  Sec- 
retary Thomas  Welles,  came  out  to  Saybrooke,  but  his  Lord- 
ship  discouraged  by  the  gloomy  aspect  of  everything  about 
him,  and  not  finding  his  golden  dreams  realized,  returned  to 
England,  leaving  his  Secretary  behind  to  encounter  the  dan- 
gers and  difficulties  of  the  then  wilderness.  Thomas  Welles 
proceeded  up  the  Connecticut  river  with  his  company  as  far 
as  Wethersfield  and  Hartford. 


17 


Thomas  Welles  on  his  arrival  in  Connecticut,  disclaimed 
“ Arms,”  in  compliance  with  the  general  custom,  but  that  did 
not  prevent  his  taking  a prominent  position  at  an  early  day 
in  the  affairs  of  the  Colony,  and  from  bravely  counselling  to 
take  up  arms  against  the  warlike  Pequots  at  that  memorable 
Court  of  the  Magistrates  of  whom  he  was  one,  held  on  the 
7 th  day  of  May,  1637.  He  held  the  office  of  Magistrate  for 
twenty-two  years,  and  until  his  death.  In  1639  was  Treas- 
urer of  the  Colony ; in  1641,  Secretary;  in  1649,  a Commis- 
sioner of  the  United  Colonies  ; in  1654,  Moderator  of  the 
General  Court,  and  Deputy  Governor  ; in  1655,  Governor ; in 
1656-57,  Deputy  Governor;  1658,  Governor,  and  in  1659 
again  Deputy  Governor.  Was  considered  one  of  the  best 
writers  in  the  Colony  and  most  of  the  laws  of  that  period 
were  drafted  by  him.  Was  a man  of  affairs,  and  one  of  the 
largest  taxpayers.  He  died  at  Wethersfield,  Jan.  14,  1660, 
leaving  a widow  and  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  besides  one  son  deceased. 

John  Welles,  the  eldest  son  of  Governor  Welles,  born  in 
Northamptonshire,  1621,  came  to  this  country  with  his  father 
in  1636  ; was  made  a Freeman  at  Hartford,  April  1,  1645  ; 
removed  shortly  after  to  Stratford  in  which  he  received  his 
father’s  interest ; was  the  Representative,  1656-7  ; Magistrate 
and  Judge  of  Probate,  in  1658.  He  died  in  1659,  aged  thirty- 
eight  years,  leaving  the  following  children:  John,  Thomas 

and  Robert,  (twins)  Temperance,  Samuel  and  Sarah.  The 
widow,  Elizabeth  Welles,  who  was  left  by  her  husband’s  will 
“ all  that  is  due  her  in  England  and  forty  pounds  to  carry 
her  there,  if  she  chooses  to  go,”  married  second,  in  1663, 
John  Willcockson,  of  Stratford. 

John  Welles,  Jr.,  called  Captain  Welles  in  the  Stratford  rec- 
ords, was  born  at  Stratford,  in  1648,  and  was  married  to 
Mary  Hollister,  daughter  of  John  Hollister,  of  Wethersfield, 
1669.  There  were  eight  children,  viz.  : Mary,  Thomas  and 

Sarah,  (twins)  John,  Comfort,  Joseph,  Elizabeth  and  Robert, 
all  born  in  Stratford.  John  Welles,  Jr.,  died  Nov.  24,  1714. 

Thomas  Welles,  eldest  son  of  John  Welles,  Jr.,  born  Jan. 
2,  1674,  was  married  about  1710,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of 


18 


Ephraim  Stiles,  of  Stratford.  There  were  nine  children,  as 
follows : 

Bathsheba,  born  April  30,  1711  ; Ephraim,  born  Nov.  7, 
1712;  Comfort,  born  Sep.  15,  1714;  Thomas,  born  Aug.  20, 
1717;  Gideon,  born  Nov.  12,  1719;  Daniel,  born  May  19, 
1722  ; Gordon,  born  Feb.  3,  1724  ; Hezekiah,  born  July,  1732. 

Thomas  Welles  was  commonly  known  as  Deacon  Welles, 
being  the  first  of  that  name  to  hold  that  office  in  the  old 
Stratford  church. 

Gideon  Welles,  son  of  Deacon  Thomas,  married  Eunice  ( ) 

and  lived  at  It  ip  ton  Parish,  in  Stratford,  where  she  died 
Jan.  8,  1805,  aged  eighty-five,  and  he  died  Oct.  19,  1805,  aged 
eiglity-six  years.  His  will,  probated  Nov.  2,  1805,  on  file  in 
the  Bridgeport  records,  gives  to  his  daughters  Eunice  Welles, 
who  had  married  Simeon  Hamilton,  June  4,  1794  ; 

Buth  Welles,  who  had  married  Timothy  Hatch,  Nov.  28, 
1782  ; 

Diantha  Welles,  who  had  married  John  Ayers,  Dec  1,  1782; 

Blackleach  Burritt,  Jr.,  son  of  my  daughter  (deceased,) 
Martha  Burritt ; 

Each  five  pounds  ; while  the  real  estate  was  divided  be- 
tween his  sons,  Stiles,  Gideon,  Jr.,  and  Robert  Welles,  all  of 
Ripton  Parish.  Robert  Welles  married  Anna  Wheeler,  Dec. 
9,  1779.  The  marriages  of  the  other  sons  do  not  appear. 

Hezekiah  Welles,  the  youngest  son  of  Deacon  Thomas,  was 
married  at  Stratford,  about  1753,  to  Phebe  Latin,  and  had 
five  sons : David,  Josiah,  born  about  1756,  Gurdon,  Abijah 

and  Abner.  She  died  at  Ripton  Parish,  Jan.  2,  1812,  aged 
ninety  years.  Hezekiah  was  a Sergt.  in  Capt.  Edward  Barnard’s 
company  in  the  French  war,  1759.  He  is  believed  to  have  re- 
moved to  New  Milford.  His  son,  Josiah,  married  Prudence 
Leavenworth,  at  Ripton  Parish,  Jan.  13,  1770,  and  had  a son, 
James,  born  1780,  who  married  at  DeRuyter,  Madison  Coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  Oct.  1802,  Prudence,  daughter  of  Rev.  Blackleach 
Burritt. 

Gurdon  Welles,  third  son  of  Hezekiah,  born  Feb.  28,  1758, 
in  Ripton  Parish,  was  there  married  March  1,  1792,  to  Sarfih, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Blackleach  Burritt. 


19 


The  Fairfield  East  Association,  which  licensed  Mr.  Bur- 
ritt,  recommended  him  to  the  church  at  Ridgebury,  as  a 
worthy  and  proper  person,  and  the  records  show  him  to  have 
been  there  for  a short  period,  from  April  8,  1768,  the  prede- 
cessor of  Rev.  Samuel  Camp,  who  was  ordained  there  in  1769. 
From  then  until  1772,  there  is  no  record  of  him,  but  he  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  at  New  Milford,  Conn.,  where  there  were 
kindred  of  his  wife’s,  and  where  there  was  a Separatist 
church,  or  at  North  Salem,  Westchester,  County,  N.  Y.  As 
early  as  1772,  he  appeared  at  Pound  Ridge,  in  Westchester 
County,  N Y.,  and  was  the  first  recorded  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  at  that  place.  The  records  of  the  old  Dutch- 
ess County  Presbytery,  of  which  he  became  a member,  at  a 
meeting  held  May  4,  1774,  recommended  the  Congregation 
at  Pound  Ridge,  to  give  a call  to  the  Rev.  Blackleach  Burritt 
to  settle  among  them  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Whereupon 
a formal  call  was  duly  extended  to  him,  and  on  June  15,  1774, 
an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  that 
place  for  the  purpose  of  his  ordination.  On  the  day  follow- 
ing, after  account  of  some  preliminary  business,  and  the  for- 
mal ordaining  of  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt,  the  following  record  ap- 
pears : “ But  inasmuch  as  there  are  certain  difficulties  sub- 

sisting in  this  Church  and  Congregation  respecting  Mr.  Bur- 
ritt’s  being  settled  over  them,  the  Presbytery  does  not  think 
proper  to  give  Mr.  Burritt  the  particular  charge  of  this  Con- 
gregation, as  their  stated  Pastor,  but  do  ordain  him  with  ref- 
erence to  them,  and  appoint  him  to  labor  here  in  his  Ministe- 
rial office  for  the  space  of  one  year.”  At  the  end  of  that  year 
another  remonstrance  from  aggrieved  members  of  that  con- 
gregation was  presented  to  the  Presbytery,  but  his  friends 
were  more  powerful,  and  he  was  continued  there  for  another 
year.  A copy  of  the  original  protest  is  herewith  presented, 
not  only  as  a quaint  and  original  document,  but  as  giving 
occasion  to  show  the  trend  of  his  religious  thought. 

To  the  Reverend  Presbytery  now  Convened  in  Pound  Ridge: 
Rev.  Sirs:  We  the  subscribers  beg  leave  to  show  before 

you  the  Reasons  why  we  are  not  willing  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt 
should  not  be  introduct  into  the  work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry 


20 


in  this  place,  which  are  as  followeth,  viz ; The  first  & 
great  reason  is  Because  we  in  our  opinions  Look  upon  his 
principals  in  matters  of  a Religious  Nature  not  to  be  Agree- 
able to  the  Directions,  Rules  & Precepts  of  the  Gospel,  & 
so  consequently  contrary  to  the  Dictates  of  our  Consciences, 
& also  contrary  to  the  Peace  & good  order  of  this  place  as  to 
Ecclesiastical  Enjoyments,  & notwithstanding  the  Desirable 
qualities  & Endowments  which  are  Discoverable  in  the  gen- 
tleman in  other  respects.  As  Sundry  of  us  have  signed  for 
Mr.  Burret’s  Salery,  we  stand  ready  to  give  the  reasons  sev- 
erally when  required.  We  desire  to  guard  against  a Party 
spirit,  requesting  the  same  of  our  fellow  members  of  this 
community,  humbly  imploring  Divine  assistance  that  we  may 
all  be  brought  to  such  conclution  in  unity  as  in  this  important 
afare  shall  be  most  conducive  to  God’s  glory  & the  public 
weal  of  this  Ecclesiastical  communite,  is  the  earnest  request 
of  your  most  obedient  and  Humble  Servts,  the  subscribers. 

Pound  Ridge,  June  14,  lT^ 

Eb  C.  Brown, 

David  Fan  slier, 

Amos  Scofield, 

Enos  Brown, 

Joseph  Scofield, 

Ebenezer  Bouton,  Jr., 

David  Dart, 

Joseph  Seymour. 

To  understand  the  causes  of  this  protest  it  is  only  necessa- 
ry to  recall  the  fact  that  Mr.  Burritt  had  imbided  the  spirit 
of  Whitfield’s  preaching  while  in  College,  and  that  he  had 
studied  Theology  under  Rev.  Jedediah  Mills,  who  was  a friend 
of  Whitfield,  and  in  favor  of  revivals,  the  new  light  movement, 
and  less  restrictions  of  Church  and  State,  as  it  then  existed 
in  the  Colony.  That  was  evidently  the  reason  of  his  early 
migration  over  the  borders  and  into  the  larger  ecclesiastical 
liberty  which  then  obtained  in  the  State  of  New  York ; 
but  Pound  Ridge  being  essentially  a New  England  commun- 
ity, offered  some  resistance  to  his  theological  thesis.  The 
opposition  also  embraced  all  there  was  of  incipient  toryism 


Ebenezer  Seymour, 
Nathaniel  Fansher, 
Abraham  Slason, 
William  Garnsey, 
Timothy  Bowton, 
Joseph  Fanshaw, 


21 


there,  which  his  stalwart  patriotism  was  sure  to  antagonize. 

Mr.  Burritt’s  official  relations  with  the  Church  at  Pound 
Bidge  closed  April  1,  1776,  but  his  family  appears  to  have  re- 
mained a while  longer.  The  well  preserved  tradition  is,  as 
stated  by  Rev.  W.  J.  Cumming,  in  his  History  of  the  West- 
chester County  Presbytery,  that  when  Rev.  Samuel  Sackett, 
of  Crompond,  present  Yorktown,  N.  Y.,  was  so  outspoken  that 
he  was  obliged  to  seek  safety  in  flight,  Blackleach  Burritt 
supplied  his  place.  Miss  Mary  Lee,  of  a family  long  connect- 
ed with  the  Church  at  Crompond,  has  the  well  remembered 
tradition,  and  says,  “ He  was  thought  very  much  of  as  a Min- 
ister of  the  Gospel  by  the  people  of  that  place.”  He  was 
doubtless  there  and  in  that  vicinity  for  some  two  years  after 
severing  his  relations  with  his  previous  charge. 

MR.  BURRITT’S  CAPTURE. 

As  patriotism  was  a crowning  glory  to  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt,  so 
his  capture  was  the  dramatic  event  of  his  life.  As  already  re- 
lated, he  bravely  held  the  post  of  danger  when  others  retired, 
but  the  Federal  lines  having  been  forced  back  so  that  it  be- 
came desirable  to  use  the  Church  and  Parsonage  at  Crompond 
(present  Yorktown)  for  military  purposes,  it  became  a neces- 
sity and  duty  to  take  his  family  to  a place  of  greater  safety. 
This  probably  occurred  sometime  in  1778.  And  then  he  and 
they  seemed  to  disappear.  His  subsequent  capture  and  in- 
carceration in  the  old  Sugar  House  Prison,  was  indeed  a well 
authenticated  tradition  in  every  branch  of  his  family,  but 
where  and  when  did  the  capture  occur  ? As  to  the  time,  no 
date  was  mentioned,  and  as  to  the  place,  there  was  a wide  di- 
vergence, some  claiming  that  it  was  at  White  Plains,  West- 
chester County,  and  others  that  it  was  on  Long  Island. 
Long  continued  research  disproved  both  of  these  theories , 
but  negations  prove  nothing.  And  when  was  the  capture  ? 
Light  unexpectedly  flashed  upon  that  query  from  a chance 
perusal  of  Washington  Irving’s  biography,  in  which,  in  a 
quaint  certificate  to  William  Irving,  testifying  to  his  kindly 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  patriot  prisoners,  and  to  which 
further  reference  will  be  made,  he  says  that  he  was  “ prisoner 
in  this  city,  (New  York)  as  early  in  the  war  as  June,  1779.” 


22 


There  was  a clue  and  it  was  carefully  followed  up. 

Where  was  he  captured  ? That  was  the  perplexing  question. 
The  search  was  continued  as  opportunity  offered.  The  tradi- 
tionary account  seemed  to  place  the  scene  near  some  navi- 
gable body  of  water, — the  river  or  the  sea.  The  Sound  line 
in  Westchester  County  was  devastated  and  in  the  possession 
of  the  unrelenting  loyalists — he  certainly  would  not  take  his 
wife  and  children  into  the  jaw’s  of  such  a lion.  Fairfield 
County  only  remained,  but  a careful  scanning  of  its  history 
gave  no  clue.  Nothing  in  its  recorded  or  unrecorded  annals 
gave  the  first  faint  glimmer  of  light.  But  at  last,  patient 
waiting,  patient  looking,  had  its  abundant  reward,  and  the 
truth  was  made  as  clearly  to  appear  as  the  sun  in  the  heav- 
ens. 

The  following  Tory  account  of  Mr.  Burritt’s  capture  was 
found  in  Frank  Moore’s  “ Diary  of  the  Revolution,”  credited 
to  the  New  Hampshire  Gazette  of  the  issue  of  July  13,  1779, 
and  it  was  the  first  discovery  of  the  long  looked  for  event.  It 
led  up  to  others  that  follow : 

“June  19. — Yesterday  morning  about  4 o’clock  32  Refugees 
commanded  by  Capt.  Bonnell  and  other  officers  landed  at 
Greenwich,  in  Connecticut.  A thick  fog  favored  their  en- 
trance, and  they  marched  through  the  town  undiscovered  ; 
but  the  Rebel  guard  being  at  length  alarmed,  and  imagining 
the  Refugees  to  be  more  numerous  than  in  fact  they  were, 
fled  with  precipitation  before  them,  and  so  close  was  the  pur- 
suit that  some  were  overtaken  and  secured.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  town  refused  to  open  their  doors  to  the  Refugees,  and 
reduced  them  to  the  necessity  of  entering  the  windows ; 
notwithstanding  which  they  plundered  the  houses  of  nothing 
but  arms  and  ammunition,  their  principal  object  being  horned 
cattle,  of  which  they  brought  off  38,  also  4 horses  and  10  or 
12  prisoners.  Among  the  latter  is  a most  pestiferous  Rebel 
Priest  and  preacher  of  sedition,  who  when  taken  swore  that 
there  was  no  firearms  in  his  house,  but  upon  his  being  cau- 
tioned against  equivocation  and  threatened  with  the  conse- 
quences which  would  result  from  persisting  in  it,  his  timid 
spouse  produced  his  firelock  and  a cartouch  box  with  eighteen 


rounds  in  it.  The  Refugees  proceeded  about  six  miles  into 
the  country  collecting  cattle,  &c.  On  their  return  they  were 
attacked  by  a body  of  Rebels,  suj^posed  to  consist  of  about 
150,  with  two  field  pieces,  but  they  kept  at  such  a distance 
that  only  one  loyalist  was  wounded  by  their  fire.  Before  the 
Refugees  embarked  they  landed  a field  piece,  which  was  of 
great  service,  and  after  engaging  the  Rebels  two  hours,  dur- 
ing which  time  they  expended  all  their  ammunition,  they  got 
safe  on  board,  and  arrived  at  Oyster  Bay  about  noon,  with 
their  cattle  and  prisoners.  They  were  obliged  to  leave  a 
number  of  the  former  on  the  Rebel  shore  for  want  of  boats 
to  bring  them  off.” 

No  doubt  this  “pestiferous  Priest”  was  Rev.  Mr.Burritt,  as 
the  following  account  of  the  same  affair  taken  from  the  files 
of  Rivington’s  Royal  Gazette,  date  of  June  23,  1779,  abund- 
antly testifies : 

“ Some  days  ago  a party  of  Rebels  came  over  to  Treadwell’s 
farm,  Long  Island,  conducted  by  Major  Brush,  and  carried 
off  Justice  Hewlett  and  Capt.  Young — since  which  the  Refu- 
gees went  over  to  Greenwich  in  Connecticut  and  returned 
with  13  prisoners,  among  whom  is  a Presbyterian  Parson 
named  Burritt,  an  egregious  Rebel  who  has  frequently  taken 
arms,  and  is  of  great  repute  in  the  Colony  ; 48  head  of  cattle, 
and  4 horses  were  brought  in  with  the  prisoners.” 

The  following  from  the  Connecticut  Gazette  of  New  Lon- 
don, issue  of  July  8,  1779,  gives  as  will  be  seen,  quite  a differ- 
ent version  of  this  Tory  marauding  expedition  : 

“ New  Haven,  J une  23. — Wednesday  night  last  a j^arty  of  the 
enemy  from  Lon‘g  Island,  landed  at  Green’s  Farms  in  Fairfield 
and  plundered  the  house  of  Dr.  Jessup  of  all  they  could  carry 
off.  The  next  night,  (Thursday,  June  17),  a considerable  party 
landed  at  Stamford,  who  before  the  inhabitants  could  collect 
in  force,  made  prisoners  of  8 or  10  persons,  among  whom  was 
a Mr.  Blackleacli  Burritt,  an  unordained  preacher,  and  took 
off  30  or  40  head  of  cattle,  which  they  got  on  board  under 
cover  of  the  fire  of  a privateer  which  landed  close  in  under  a 
point.  They  likewise  plundered  all  they  coxdd  lay  their  hands 
on , broke  windows,  &c.,  and  committed  many  outrages.” 


24 


It  was  easy  to  make  tlie  error  of  locating  the  raid  at  nearby 
Stamford  ; and  as  lias  already  been  noted,  Mr.  Burritt  was  a 
regulary  ordained  Minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Joel  Hatch,  Jr.,  nephew  of  Ruth  Wells  Hatch,  sister  of 
Mrs.  Rev.  Burritt,  in  his  history  of  Sherburne,  N.  Y.,  says : 
“ He  was  a zealous  Whig  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  often 
carrying  his  patriotism  into  his  pulpit.  A party  of  British 
soldiers,  guided  by  Tories,  surrounded  his  house  in  the  night, 
took  him  prisoner,  and  hurried  him  into  their  boat,  not  allow- 
ing time  to  put  on  Iris  clothes  until  they  had  him  safe  on 
board.  They  sailed  immediately  for  New  York,  where  he 
was  confined  most  of  the  time  in  what  was  known  as  the 
Sugar  House  Prison.” 

The  following  dramatic  account  of  the  capture  is  by  Mrs. 
D.  E.  Sackett,  widow  of  the  late  Rev.  H.  A.  Sackett,  now  of 
Cranford,  N.  J.,  an  aged  lady  of  rare  gifts  and  culture,  and 
a granddaughter  of  Mr.  Burritt,  as  received  from  her  mother, 
Diantha  Burritt  Gray,  wife  of  John  Gray,  Jr.,  one  of  the  orig- 
inal proprietors  of  Sherburne  : 

She  says  of  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt  that  “ He  used  often  to  take 
his  musket  into  the  pulpit  for  defence,  and,  if  need  be,  for 
ready  joining  in  offensive  warfare.”  Again  , “ At  the  seizure, 
some  privates  burst  into  the  room.  Grandmother  sprang 
between  the  raised  bayonets  and  her  husband,  holding  them 
at  bay,  (heroic  daughter  of  the  Revolution,  Patriot  mother, 
wife !)  till  an  officer  ordered  them  to  desist.  As  they  did 
not  then  allow  him  time  enough,  or  had  not  enough  of  human 
kindness  to  let  him  dress,  his  poor  wife  foll6wed,  clothes  in 
hand,  begging  a chance  for  him  to  put  some  on,  which  finally 
they  granted  with  rough  oaths.  She  then  followed  to  the 

water  pleading  for  her  two  cows.  With  ‘ Let  the Rebel 

minister’s  wife  have  one  of  them !’  she  drove  it  back  to  her 
desolated  home,  grief  for  her  lost  husband  and  pity  for  her 
helpless  children  dividing  her  heart.” 

It  is  said  that  as  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt,  and  the  other  prisoners 
were  being  hurried  along  toward  the  beach,  the  wives  and 
children  followed  in  the  rear.  When  they  had  gone  some  dis- 


25 


tance  an  officer  rode  up  to  the  little  band,  and  urged  them  to 
turn  back,  saying  that  they  were  being  pursued  by  the  Colon- 
ists, and  that  if  they  failed  to  reach  their  boats  before  they 
were  overtaken  by  them,  the  women  and  children  would  be 
between  two  fires  ; yet  they  followed  on,  and  did  not  return, 
but  stood  in  silent  protest  against  the  robbery  of  their  homes 
though  there  were  signs  of  battle  near  at  hand.  And  so  the 
marauders  sailed  away  with  their  prisoners  and  pillage,  leav- 
ing devastation  in  their  track.  And  this  wTas  the  spot,  this 
the  scene  of  the  capture — Old  Greenwich,  modern  Sea  Beach. 
There  is  still  the  old  burying  ground  near  which  the  Church 
stood,  and  there  in  full  view  to  the  passing  traveller,  is  the 
old  building,  then  the  parsonage  and  the  home  of  Mr.  Burritt 
and  his  family,  from  which  he  -was  so  rudely  taken.  The  re- 
cords of  the  old  church  are  missing  for  the  Revolutionary 
period,  and  the  records  of  theFairfield  West  Consociation  do 
not  show  Mr.  Burritt’s  appointment  there  for  the  reason  that 
they  were  destroyed  at  the  burning  of  Fairfield  by  the  British 
early  in  that  year,  but  the  town  records  of  Greenwich  bear 
evidence  to  the  fact  that  he  was  there,  by  his  officiating  at  a 
marriage  there,  date  of  February  10,  1779. 

Soon  after  the  capture,  the  disconsolate  family  removed  to 
Pound  Ridge,  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  where  they  had 
friends  and  were  cared  for  during  Mr.  Burritt’s  imprisonment, 
which  was  for  a period  of  about  fourteen  months.  The  refer- 
ence to  Mr.  Burritt  in  Irving’s  biography  may  pertinently  be 
here  introduced.  Mr.  William  Irving,  the  father  of  Washing- 
ton Irving,  had  remained  in  trade  in  the  city  of  New  York 
during  the  British  occupation,  and  as  the  time  for  evacuation 
drew  near,  evidently  feeling  that  his  situation  was  some- 
what precarious,  and  fearing  pro  scription  from  the  now 
victorious  Patriots,  he  obtained  from  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt  the 
following  quaint  certificate  as  a means  of  security : 

“ These  may  certify  whom  it  may  concern  ; whether  civil 
or  military  officers,  that  Deacon  William  Irving,  merchant  in 
this  city,  appeared  to  be  friendly  inclined  to  the  liberties  of 
the  United  States  & greatly  lamented  the  egregious  barbari- 
ties practiced  by  her  enemies  on  the  unhappy  sons  of  Liberty 


26 


that  unhappily  fell  in  their  power — contributed  largely  to  my 
relief  (who  was  a prisoner  in  this  city  as  early  in  the  war  as 
June,  1779),  and  was  probably  an  instrument  under  God  of 
the  preservation  of  my  life,  and  by  credible  accounts  I have 
had  from  other  prisoners,  has  been  the  means  of  the  preser- 
vation of  theirs  also.” 

This  document  was  signed  “ Blackleacli  Burritt,  Minister 
of  the  Gospel  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,”  and  bears  date 
Nov.  15, 1783,  just  ten  days  before  Washington  and  his  army 
entered  the  city  in  triumph. 

The  story  of  Mr.  Burritt’s  relations  with  Mr.  William  Irv- 
ing while  in  Prison  are  told  by  his  granddaughter,  Mrs.  D. 
E.  Sackett,  as  follows  : 

“ He  discovered  Mr.  Burritt  very  low  with  prison  fever,  in 
his  miserable  cell,  and  by  personal  influence  had  him  given  a 
suitable  place  and  medical  care,  and  when  he  rallied  Mr. 
Irving  looked  after  him  each  day  in  his  convalescence.  Mrs. 
Irving  also  sent  him  a good  bowl  of  coffee,  in  the  bottom  of 
which  was  a cheering  couplet  painted  ; and  that  grandfather 
said  did  him  about  as  much  good  as  the  comforting,  strength- 
ening beverage.  And  at  last  he  rounded  up  his  good  deeds 
by  securing  a release  for  him  through  an  exchange  of  pris- 
oners.” 

He  used  often  to  preach  to  his  fellow  prisoners,  and  was 
known  among  the  British  officers  and  soldiers  as  the  “ Rebel 
Priest.”  It  is  said  that  expecting  to  be  released  on  a certain 
Monday  he  prepared  a specially  spicy  sermon  for  the  Sunday 
previous,  which  the  officers  in  charge  of  the  prison,  knowing 
his  spirit  and  independence,  were  determined  to  prevent  his 
delivering,  and  accordingly  released  him  on  the  Saturday 
night  before,  ordering  him  to  leave  at  once,  which  to  his 
regret,  he  was  obliged  to  do.” 

The  exact  date  of  Mr.  Burritt’s  release  from  prison  is  not 
known,  but  the  records  of  the  Dutchess  County  Presbytery, 
which  at  that  time  included  a portion  of  Westchester  County 
as  well,  show  that  he  was  present  at  a meeting  held  Oct.  11, 
1780,  and  officiated  as  clerk.  The  next  mention  made  of  him 
is  that  at  a meeting  of  the  same  body  held  Oct.  8,  1783, 


27 


“ Presbytery  was  opened  with  a sermon  by  Mr.  Burritt, 
from  Psalm,  122:6.  ‘Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem  : they 
shall  prosper  that  love  thee.’  ” At  this  meeting  the  record 
says,  “ Mr.  Burritt  being  reduced  to  low  circumstances  as  to 
the  comforts  of  this  life  and  outward  means  of  subsistence  by 
reason  of  ye  late  war  and  otherwise,  request  ye  advice  of  the 
Presbytery  respecting  ye  means  of  relief,  whereupon  we  agree 
to  recommend  him  to  the  warmest  charity  of  our  Christian 
Brethren,  and  appoint  ye  clerk  to  draw  up  the  commendation 
for  the  purpose.”  At  the  same  meeting  he  and  two  others 
were  appointed  to  spend  one  Sabbath  each  in  missionary 
work  in  the  lower  parts  of  Westchester  County. 

Where  Mr.  Burritt  was  between  1780  and  1783,  does  not 
appear,  but  his  family  seems  to  have  been  a part  of  the  time 
at  least,  at  Bipton  Parish,  for  he  had  a daughter  born  there 
in  November,  1782.  He  is  believed,  however,  to  have  been 
at  Crompond  a portion  if  not  most  of  that  period.  The  next 
reference  to  him  is  of  the  date  of  Dec.  1,  1783,  when  “ the 
Presbytery  met  at  Mr.  Burritt’s  in  the  West  Congregation  in 
Fredricksburg,”  present  town  of  Carmel,  Putnam  County, 
N.  Y.,  having  charge  of  the  Mt.  Gilead  Church  as  -well  as  the 
one  at  West  Fredricksburg  so  called,  and  where  he  evidently 
resided.  The  site  of  the  old  log  Church,  (Mt.  Gilead),  where 
he  preached,  near  Carmel,  is  still  pointed  out,  and  his  memo- 
ry is  still  cherished  there. 

On  the  death,  June  5,  1784,  of  Rev.  Samuel  Sackett,  for  a 
long  time  except  a brief  period  during  the  Revolution,  pastor 
of  the  Church  at  Crompond,  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt  preached  his 
funeral  sermon.  He  was  located  at  West  Fredricksburg, 
or  Red  Mills — the  present  Maliopac  Falls — for  some  three 
years,  and  it  was  there  that  a great  affliction  befel  him  in  the 
death  of  his  wife,  in  April,  1786.  She  -was  yet  comparatively 
young,  not  more  than  41  or  42, — the  Church  records  of 
Stratford  show  her  baptism  Feb.  23,  1745 — but  the  burdens 
of  her  life  had  not  been  light  nor  her  tasks  easy.  She  had 
come  to  be  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  and  their  care  and 
the  terrible  strain  of  war  times  had  been  too  great  for  her 
overtaxed  powers.  The  youngest  child  and  daughter  was 


28 


but  an  infant  of  a few  weeks  old  when  the  mother  gave  it 
her  last  loving  look,  and  fell  asleep,  another  martyr  to  moth- 
erhood and  duty,  as  was  litting  a loyal  daughter  of  her  sire 
who  bravely  suffered  confiscation  and  expatriation  for  con- 
science sake.  The  home  was  desolated  by  her  death,  and  the 
children  scattered,  several  of  them  going  to  live  for  a time 
with  their  kindred  at  Ripton  Parish.  On  the  10th  of  May 
following,  1786,  Mr.  Burritt  was  present  at  a meeting  of  the 
Presbytery,  but  no  further  record  is  made  of  him  until 
May  8,  1794,  when  his  name  was  dropped  from  the  rolls 
as  being  then  of  Vermont. 

The  following  mention  of  him  is  copied  from  the  Court 
Records  of  Fairfield  County,  book  of  Executions,  date  of 
Nov.  30,  1789: 

To  the  Constables  and  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Fairfield: 

“ Whereas,  Elisha  Mills,  of  Huntington,  recovered  judg- 
ment against  Blackleach  Burritt,  late  of  New  Fairfield,  in 
said  County,  and  now  an  absent  and  absconding  debtor  and 
gone  to  parts  unknown,  before  the  County  Court  holden 
at  Danbury  within  the  County  aforesaid  on  the  3d  Tuesday 
of  November,  1789,  for  the  sum  of  £59.19s.6d,  lawful  money 
debt,  and  the  sum  of  £2.10  costs,  whereof  execution  remains 
to  be  done  hereon,  therefore  by  the  authority  of  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  you  are  commanded  to  levy  on  the  goods, 
chattels  and  lands  of  the  said  Burritt  as  the  law  directs,” 
&c.,  and  if  they  were  not  sufficient  to  satisfy  in  full  the  debt 
and  costs,  then  the  said  officers  were  “ commanded  to  take 
the  body  of  the  said  Burritt  and  him  commit  unto  the  keep- 
er of  the  gaol  in  Fairfield  County  aforesaid,”  and  there  to 
keep  him  “ until  he  pay  unto  the  said  Mills  the  full  sum  afore- 
mentioned,” with  fees,  &c.  And  so  this  Veteran  Patriot  Pas- 
tor, who  had  suffered  imprisonment  for  devotion  to  the  cause 
of  his  country,  was  in  danger  of  being  thrust  into  a common 
jail  as  a debtor ! 

The  records  show  that  the  officer  reported  on  Dec.  1,  that 
Burritt  could  not  be  found — he  was  probably  elsewhere  too 
actively  engaged  in  his  Master’s  service  to  pay  any  attention 
to  these  proceedings — “ or  money  or  other  valuable  consider- 


29 


ation,”  but  that  he  had  levied  upon  a tract  of  land  in  Hunting- 
ton,  Bipton  Society,  called  the  “ Mohegan  Bocks/’  (probably 
the  rocks  are  all  there  yet,  though  the  last  of  the  Mohegans 
disappeared  sometime  since)  containing  nineteen  and  one- 
lialf  acres,  which  was  appraised  at  £2  per  acre,  and  that  was 
turned  over  to  the  said  Mills  towards  the  satisfaction  of  his 
claim.  It  is  interesting  in  this  connection  to  state  that  the 
town  records  of  Stratford  show  that  Blackleach  Burritt  pur- 
chased that  same  piece  of  real  estate,  then  called  “ the  South 
End  of  Mohegan  Hills,”  of  his  father,  Peleg  Burritt,  Jr.,  Jan. 
5,  1765,  paying  therefor  £142. 10s.  Evidently  he  had  paid  a 
high  price  for  it,  or  there  had  been  great  depreciation,  or 
Mills  was  a grasping  monopolist.  Perhaps  something  of  each, 
but  Mr.  Burritt  evidently  had  considered  the  land  as  ample 
security  for  the  debt  incurred. 

An  important  fact  disclosed  by  the  foregoing,  is  that  after 
leaving  West  Fredricksburg,  Mr.  Burritt  was  for  a time  at 
New  Fairfield.  Perhaps  his  second  marriage,  which  was 
with  Deborah  Wells,  of  the  Long  Island,  Southold  family,  she 
being  a direct  descendant  of  William  Wells,  one  of  the  fore- 
most men  of  that  settlement,  Kecorder,  Deputy  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  and  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  Count}',  N.  Y.,  from  1665  to 
1669 — was  while  at  New  Fairfield,  although  she  had  kindred 
at  Wells,  in  Hamilton  County,  N.  Y.,  not  far  from  which,  in 
Greenfield,  Saratoga  County,  he  next  appears,  having  been 
the  pioneer  Pastor  of  a Church  there  as  early  as  1790,  the 
records  showing  that  at  a meeting  held  Sept.  12  of  that  year, 
he  was  authorized  to  represent  the  Greenfield  Church  at  a 
convention  “ at  Bennington,  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  the 
present  week.”  An  old  letter  at  hand  also  shows  his  residence 
there  during  the  early  part  of  that  year.  The  year  following, 
1791,  Mr.  Burritt  is  found  at  Duanesburgli,  then  of  Albany 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  is  said  to  have  formed  a Church  com- 
posed mainly  of  Connecticut  families,  who  tarried  there  for  a 
while,  among  whom  were  a brother,  Stiles  Welles,  and  a 
sister,  Mrs.  Butli  Welles  Hatch,  of  his  first  wife,  and  that  was 
probably  what  attracted  him  thither.  In  a letter  dated  at 
Duanesburgh,  Dec.  28,  1791,  he  writes  : “ Stiles  Welles  has 


30 


lately  returned  from  Huntington.”  During  the  same  period 
he  was  also  ministering  to  a Church  in  the  adjoining  town  of 
Florida,  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.  But  this  pioneer  preach- 
er could  not  long  remain  in  any  one  place.  The  true  spirit 
of  the  Pilgrims  was  in  him,  and  impelled  him  on.  The  old 
records  of  the  Church  at  Winliall,  Bennington  County,  Vt., 
state  that  on  Friday,  Jan.  6,  1792,  only  about  a week  later 
than  the  date  of  the  above  quoted  letter,  he  was  there  present 
and  officiating.  Again  on  the  11th  of  March  following,  the 
records  show  him  to  have  been  there,  and  so  on  from  time  to 
time  during  that  year.  The  records  then  show  that  an  Eccles- 
iastical Council  was  “convened  at  Winhall,  on  the  1st  day  of 
January,  A.  1).,  1793,  for  the  purposeof  the  Instalment  of  the 
Rev’d  Blackleach  Burritt  to  the  Pastoral  care  of  the  Church 
and  Congregation  there,”  Kev.  Robert  Campbell,  formerly 
of  New  Milford,  Conn.,  officiating  as  moderator.  It  cannot 
be  said  to  have  been  an  inviting  field  for  a preacher  of  bis 
ability,  but  in  passing  that  way  he  had  been  strongly  urged 
to  come ; the  offer  of  a farm  to  be  given  him  affording  a home 
for  his  large  family  doubtless  may  have  influenced  his  decis- 
ion, but  he  is  quoted  as  saying  with  his  characteristic  self 
forgetfulness,  “ That  if  he  did  not  go  there  perhaps  nobody 
else  would !”  And  so  a log  house  was  built  for  him  and  a 
log  Church,  and  he  became  the  first  pastor  of  the  Church  in 
Winhall.  The  records  show  considerable  additions  to  that 
Church  under  his  ministrations,  but  it  was  a brief  pastorate, 
and  death  soon  came  in  between  him  and  his  family,  and  his 
people,  and  they  were  sorely  bereft.  The  last  mention  of 
him  in  the  records  is  of  the  date  of  “ Lord’s  Day,  January  ye 
5,  1794,”  when  he  officiated  at  a baptism.  His  health  had  ev- 
idently been  broken,  for  in  the  letter  referred  to  he  says,  “ I 
have  for  a length  of  time  been  more  feebled  and  disordered 
than  usual.”  The  privations  and  sufferings  to  which  he  was 
subjected  as  a prisoner  and  otherwise,  during  the  Revolution, 
and  subsequently  as  a pioneer  preacher,  had  been  a severe 
strain  upon  even  his  strong  constitution,  and  he  was  stricken 
down  by  a prevailing  malady  which  devastated  New  England 
during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  179J.  There  was  no  cessa- 


31 


tion  in  those  early  days  of  struggle  ; no  vacation  for  tired 
and  overworked  pastors  ; no  palace  cars  to  carry  them  away 
to  famous  watering  places ; no  beds  of  inglorious  ease  ; but 
like  good  soldiers  these  Watchmen  of  Zion  must  die  at  their 
posts  ; and  so 

“Tranquil  amidst  alarms,” 

The  summons  found  him  “ in  the  field, 

“ A Veteran  slumbering  on  his  arms, 

Beneath  his  red-cross  shield.” 

The  broken  family  was  again  scattered,  never  to  be  re-unit- 
ed. Some  had  already  married,  and  others  were  elsewhere, 
yet  of  the  fourteen  children,  twelve  by  the  first  marriage  and 
two  by  the  second, — a most  interesting  group — all  survived, 
and  all  but  two  lived  to  have  families.  As  evidencing  their 
wide  divergence,  only  two,  those  by  the  second  marriage, 
died  in  the  same  place,  although  six  of  them  and  the  widow, 
came  soon  afterwards  to  reside  for  a time  in  one  place — Sher- 
burne, Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  where  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt  had 
preached  the  first  sermon  to  the  Pioneers  in  1792  ; and  hence 
the  interest  of  the  writer  in  this  story  of  his  life. 

In  the  absence  of  the  family  record,  irrecoverably  last  dur- 
ing some  of  the  many  removals,  it  has  been  a difficult  task  to 
gather  up  the  somewhat  imperfect  data  of  his  descendants 
here  presented. 

THE  CHILDREN. 

Eunice,  named  for  her  mother,  appears  to  have  been  the 
eldest  child,  born  at  Ripton  Parish,  in  1766  She  married  a 
Mr.  Hopkins,  had  children,  and  lived  fora  time  prior  to  1820, 
near  Batavia,  N.  Y. 

Melissa,  the  second  child,  was  born  Feb.  26,  1768,  probably 
at  Huntington,  just  two  days  after  Mr.  Burritt  was  licensed 
to  preach.  She  married  at  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  9,  1791, 
James  Raymond,  a native  of  Kent,  Conn.,  a descendant  of 
Captain  Richard  Raymond  from  Essex,  England,  Freeman  at 
Beverly,  Mass.,  1634,  and  afterwards  of  Norwalk  and  Say- 
brook,  Conn.  James  Raymond  was  one  of  the  original  pro- 
prietors of  Sherburne,  N.  Y.,  where  he  settled  in  1792-3,  his 
^vife,  Melissa  Burritt  Raymond,  being  one  of  the  members  of 


32 


the  first  Congregational  Church  organized  in  that  place  July 
(3,  1794.  She  was  a strong,  independent  character,  and  her 
son,  Philander  Raymond,  wras  distinguished  as  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  city  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  was  the  promoter, 
builder  and  superintendent  of  the  celebrated  Brady’s  Bend 
Iron  Works,  on  the  Alleghany  river,  Pennsylvania,  and  inter- 
ested in  other  large  enterprises.  Melissa  Burritt  Raymond 
died  at  Brady’s  Bend,  Pa  , July  3,  1849,  in  her  eighty- second 
year.  Mrs.  Rev.  J.  R.  Preston,  of  Creighton,  Nebraska,  and 
E.  F.  Ensign,  Esq.,  of  Madison,  O.,  are  her  grand-children. 

Martha,  (called  Patsy)  Burritt,  was  born  Oct.  1770,  and 
married  about  1790,  Elisha  Gra}^,  then  of  Florida,  Montgom- 
ery County,  N.  Y.  She  removed  with  her  husband,  to  Sher- 
burne, N.  Y.,  in  1793,  and  was  a charter  member  of  the 
Church  there.  By  various  removals  they  came  to  make  their 
home  at  Madison,  O , where  she  died  May  20,  1851,  in  her 
eighty-first  year.  She  had  two  daughters,  and  a son  Alanson, 
who  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  there  had  seven  sons  and  five 
daughters.  The  eldest  son,  John  Tarvin  Grajr,  born  1821, 
married  his  accomplished  cousin,  Cynthia  Raymond,  grand- 
daughter of  Melissa  Burritt  Raymond,  and  became  a noted 
civil  engineer  and  bridge  builder,  and  still  resides  at  Coving- 
ton, Ky.  Another  son,  Philander  Raymond  Gray,  was  a loyal 
Kentuckian  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  was  afterwards  Sheriff 
of  Venango  County,  Pa , Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for 
that  district,  and  for  several  years  Superintendent  of  the  great 
Eclipse  and  Standard  Oil  Co.  works,  near  Franklin,  Pa.  He 
is  the  father  by  one  mother,  of  an  interesting  family  of  eight 
sons  and  three  daughters,  one  of  the  sons  bearing  the  name 
of  Burritt  Gray.  His  present  residence  is  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

Sarah  Burritt,  the  fourth  daughter,  was  born  at  Pound 
Ridge,  Westchester  County,  Jan.  29,  1772,  and  married  her 
cousin,  Gurdon  Wells,  born  Feb.  28,  1758,  son  of  Hezekiah, 
son  of  Deacon  Thomas,  at  Huntington,  March  1,  1792,  and 
removing  to  Lincklaen,  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  their  daugh- 
ter Matilda,  born  Aug.  9,  1800,  who  still  survives,*  a Widow 
Smith,  at  Three  Rivers,  Mich.,  was  the  first  white  child  born 

V- She  died  March  17,  1892,  in  her  ninety-second  year. 


33 


in  that  township.  Gurdon  Wells  died  there  Dec.  27,  1827, 
and  she  died  Oct.  31,  1831,  in  her  sixtieth  year.  She  was  a 
very  decided  character,  and  eminent  in  Christian  piety.  It  is 
said  that  a man  who  had  heard  of  her,  came  thirty  miles  once 
to  see  her,  hoping  that  she  would  be  able  to  expound  the  way 
of  life  more  perfectly  unto  him.  But  then,  that  was  a time 
when  people  believed  something  and  thought  it  of  some  con- 
sequence what  they  did  believe. 

Ely  Burritt,  the  eldest  son,  born  at  Pound  Bidge,  March 
12,  1773,  graduated  at  Williams  College  in  the  class  of  1800, 
was  licensed  to  practice  medicine  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  March  29, 
1802,  and  became  eminent  as  a physician.  Dr.  Wayland,  who 
studied  medicine  with  him,  says : “ Dr.  Burritt  was  a man 

of  remarkable  logical  powers,  of  enthusiastic  love  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  of  great  and  deserved  confidence  in  his  own 
judgment.  He  stood  at  the  head  of  his  profession  in  Troy, 
and  in  the  neighboring  region,  and  was  a person  of  high  mor- 
al character.”  He  married  Mehitabel  Stratton,  daughter  of 
Deacon  Stratton,  of  Williamstown,  Mass.,  April  12,  1798. 
There  were  four  sons  and  three  daughters  born  to  them,  of 
whom  only  one  son  and  a daughter  had  descendants.  This 
son,  Alexander  Hamilton  Burritt,  born  in  Troy,  April  17, 1805, 
commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  1827,  after  the  Alo- 
path  system,  which  he  continued  until  1838,  when  he  em- 
braced Homoeopathy,  placing  himself  for  a time  under  the  in- 
struction of  his  distinguished  kinsman,  the  late  Dr.  John  F. 
Gray,  of  New  York,  who  was  a grandson  of  Kev.  Blackleach 
Burritt.  He  then  practiced  the  new  system;  first,  in  Craw- 
ford County,  Pa.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Cleveland,  O., 
where  he  aided  in  the  organization  of  the  Western  Homoeo- 
pathic College  in  1850,  and  was  Vice  President  and  Professor 
of  Obstetrics  until  1854,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  his 
health,  and  removing  to  New  Orleans,  was  successfully  en- 
gaged in  practice  there  until  his  death,  Oct.  1876.  His  son, 
Amatus  Bobbins  Burritt,  born  in  1833,  graduated  from  the 
Western  Homoeopathic  College  in  1853,  engaged  in  practice 
at  Huntsville,  Al-a.  In  1866  he  married  Miss  Mary  K.  Bobin- 
son,  by  whom  he  had  a son,  Dr.  William  H.  Burritt,  born  1869, 


34 


now  in  practice  at  Huntsville,  where  his  father  died  Aug.  22, 
1876.  Dr.  A.  R.  Burritt  was  for  a time  in  the  Confederate 
service,  while  his  only  brother,  (there  is  a surviving  sister, 
Mrs.  Julia  A.  Gary,  of  Evansville,  Ind  ,)  Ely  Burritt,  now  of 
Fall  River,  Mass.,  was  in  the  Union  Army,  and  being  taken 
prisoner,  Dr.  A.  R , was  instrumental  in  securing  his  release. 
This  branch  of  the  Burritt  family,  is  remarkable  in  that  it  is 
represented  by  four  generations  of  physicians,  all  of  high 
reputation,  being  the  son,  grandson,  great-grandson  and  great- 
great-grandson  of  Rev.  Blackleach  Burritt.  Dr.  Ely  Burritt 
died  at  Troy,  Sep.  1,  1823,  in  his  fifty-first  year.  His  widow 
afterwards  married  Professor  John  Adams,  the  noted  Principal 
of  Exeter  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  Mass.  Julia  AnnBurritt, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Ely,  and  said  to  have  been  a remarkably 
beautiful  girl,  married  Dr.  Amatus  Robbins,  and  died  Dec. 
12,  1839,  in  her  nineteenth  year,  leaving  a son  who  is  a phy- 
sician in  New  Haven.  A tradition  of  Dr.  Ely  Burritt  is,  that 
on  the  capture  of  his  father,  being  then  a boy  of  six  years, 
he  threw  corn  cobs  at  the  British  soldiers  as  expressive  of 
his  patriotic  indignation  ! 

Gideon  Burritt,  son  of  Rev.  Blackleach,  born  in  Pound 
Ridge,  Sep.  15,  1774,  married  Sarah  Bowne,  lived  at  Winhall 
and  Manchester,  Vt.,  where  he  died  in  1858.  Had  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  still  survive  at  Manchester,  viz.  : Dea- 

con Edwin  Burritt,  who  married  Mary  Chellis,  and  has  de- 
scendants, Jared  Burritt,  and  Hon.  Johnson  Burritt.  A son, 
Ely,  married  Esther  Strait,  whose  mother  was  Rachel  Purdy, 
and  removed  to  Columbia,  Bradford  County  , Pennsylvania. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Burritt  Mosher,  of  Albany  N.  Y.,  widow  of  the 
late  Dr.  C.  D.  Mosher,  of  Albany,  is  a daughter  of  Ely. 

Diantha  Burritt,  daughter  of  Rev.  Blackleach,  born  at  Pound 
Ridge,  Jan.  9,  1776,  married  John  Gray,  Jr.,  at  Winhall,  Vt., 
May  26,  1793.  Judge  John  Gray  was  an  early  and  prominent 
citizen  of  Sherburne,  N.  Y.,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Sheri- 
dan, Chautauqua  County,  where  she  died  Oct.  14,  1846. 
There  were  six  sons  and  two  daughters  born  to  her.  Three 
of  the  sons  became  physicians,  one  of  them,  the  late  Dr.  John 
F.  Gray,  pre-eminent  as  the  first  to  embrace  the  doctrines  of 


35 


Hahnemann,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  distinguished  for 
his  large  and  successful  practice.  Another  of  the  sons,  Rev. 
Blackleach  Burritt  Gray,  was  a Presbyterian  Minister,  and 
one  of  his  sons,  General  John  Burritt  Gray,  now  of  New  York, 
won  distinction  by  his  services  as  Adjutant  General  of  the 
State  of  Missouri,  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  A 
daughter,  Diantha,  became  eminent  as  a teacher,  and  with  her 
late  husband,  the  Rev.  H.  A.  Sackett,  was  influential  in  the 
founding  of  Elmira  Female  College,  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.  This 
lady  of  rare  gifts  and  high  Christian  character,  whose  home 
is  at  Cranford,  N.  J.,  is  one  of  the  surviving  grand-children 
of  Rev.  Blackleach  Burritt,  whose  memory  she  has  done  much 
to  perpetuate. 

Rufus  Burritt,  supposed  to  have  been  born  in  1777,  studied 
medicine  with  his  brother,  Dr.  Ely,  at  Troy,  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  180G.  It  is  said  that  going  away  for  a time  to 
look  about  the  country,  he  returned  to  find  his  intended  mar- 
ried to  some  one  else  ; hence  he  never  married,  and  led  a 
roving  life,  teaching  some — and  he  is  said  to  have  been  an 
excellent  teacher — as  he  had  opportunity  both  in  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Kentucky,  in  which  latter  State  he  died,  in  Campbell 
County,  about  1850.  A gifted  but  very  eccentric  man. 

Blackleach  Burritt,  Jr.,  born  at  Pound  Ridge,  N.  Y.,  Oct. 
27,  1779,  while  his  father  was  in  the  old  Sugar  House  Prison, 
after  the  death  of  his  mother  went  to  Huntington,  Conn.,  to 
live  with  his  kindred,  and  on  Nov.  1,  1802,  married  Sally 
Hubbell,  daughter  of  John  Hubbell,  Jr.  They  removed  to 
Pennsylvania  in  1810,  and  he  died  at  Wilksbarre,  Oct.  1,  1830. 
They  had  two  daughters  and  six  sons,  as  follows  : 

Hepsa,  born  1804  ; married  Ziba  Burns  ; residence,  Union- 
dale,  Susquehanna  Count}',  Pa. 

Grandison,  born  1806  ; lived  in  Wisconsin. 

Samuel,  born  1808  ; lived  at  Uniondale,  Pa. 

Rufus,  born  1814 ; lived  at  Uniondale,  Pa. 

Ely,  born  1817  ; lived  at  Carbondale,  Pa. 

Sarah  Caroline,  born  Aug.  18,  1819 ; married  Otis  M. 
Dimmick,  Uniondale,  Pa. 

Charles,  born  1823 ; died  1825. 


36 


Samuel  Burritt,  third  child  of  Blackleach,  Jr.,  born  at 
Huntington,  Conn.,  March  31,  1808;  married  Amanda  Nich- 
ols, Sep.  19,  1836  ; lived  at  Uniondale,  where  he  died  June  20, 
1863.  His  children  were  : 

Loren,  (Col.),  born  June  26,  1837  ; died  Nov.  11,  1889 ; 
married  Delphine  D.  Raynsford. 

Ira  Nichols,  born  Dec.  28,  1838 ; Washington,  D.  C. 

Philo,  born  April  11,  1840;  lives  at  Uniondale. 

Payson,  born  July  16,  1847  ; Kansas. 

Newell,  born  Dec.  19,  1851. 

Anna  B.,  born  July  25,  1853. 

Lilian,  born  Feb.  16,  1858. 

Colonel  Loren  Burritt,  son  of  Samuel,  and  great  grandson 
of  Rev.  Blackleach,  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army  as  a private 
in  Company  K,  Fifty-sixth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers, Jan.  1862.  Was  promoted  successively  to  Orderly  Ser- 
geant, Second  Lieutenant,  First  Lieutenant,  and  on  the  2nd 
of  July,  1863,  at  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  was  assigned  to 
duty  on  the  Staff  of  General  Cutler.  In  Nov.  1863  was  com- 
missioned Major  of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  U.  S.  Colored 
Troops  ; was  severely  wounded  at  Olustee,  Fla.,  Feb.  20, 1864  ; 
was  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  while  in  the  Hospital  at 
Beaufort,  S.  C.  ; succeeded  to  the  command  of  his  Regiment, 
in  front  of  Petersburg ; was  afterward  detailed  at  Newport 
News  aud  Norfolk,  Va.  ; was  President  of  a Board  of  Inquiry 
to  investigate  the  commandant  of  the  Eastern  Department  of 
Virginia.  In  the  Summer  and  Fall  of  1865,  was  in  Texas,  and 
received  his  discharge  in  December  of  that  year.  Engaged 
in  practice  of  the  law  for  a time  at  Philadelphia,  but  suffer- 
ing from  his  wounds  broke  his  health,  and  after  being  an  in- 
valid for  several  years  he  died  at  Athens,  Bradford  County 
Pa.,  Nov.  11,  1889.  A man  of  high  character  and  attain- 
ments and  a worthy  descendant  of  his  patriotic  sire.  He 
was  greatly  interested  in  his  ancestry,  and  the  genealogical 
statistics  which  he  collected  has  added  much  of  interest  to 
this  sketch.  His  widow  resides  at  Owego,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  S.  C.  Dimmick,  of  Uniondale,  Pa., is  a daughter  of  Black- 
leach, Jr.,  and  a grand- daughter  of  Rev.  Blackleach  Burritt. 


Prudence  Burritt,  next  to  the  youngest  daughter  of  Bev^ 
Blackleach  Burritt,  born  at  Huntington,  Nov.  2,  1782,  mar- 
ried in  Oct.  1802,  James  Welles,  son  of  Josiali,  son  of  Heze- 
kiali ; lived  at  Edmeston,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  then  at 
Portage,  Livingston  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  Aug.  2G, 
1848,  and  she  died  March  13,  1852.  A son,  Delos  C.  Welles, 
of  Monticello,  Minn.,  and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Semantha  Wil- 
cox, and  Mrs.  L.  C.  Britain,  of  Sodus,  N.  Y.,  still  survive. 

Samuel  Burritt,  the  youngest  son,  born  about  1784,  was  a 
protege  of  Miss  Susannah  DeLancey,  who  seems  to  have  cared 
for  him  after  the  death  of  his  mother,  in  1786.  He  studied 
law,  for  a time  acted  as  agent  for  a part  of  the  DeLancey 
estate,  and  died  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  1820,  leaving  two 
children  who  died  unmarried. 

Susannah  Burritt,  was  born  at  Bed  Mills,  modern  Mahopac 
Falls,  Putnan  County,  N.  Y.,  March  5,  1786,  just  six  weeks 
before  her  mother’s  death.  Believing  her  illness  to  be  fatal, 
it  is  said  that  Mrs.  Burritt  sent  for  Miss  Susannah  DeLancey, 
the  unmarried  daughter  of  Lieutenant-Governor  DeLancey, 
who  lived  at  nearby  Crompond,  who  despite  powerful  family 
influence  remained  true  to  the  cause  of  the  Colonies,  and  was 
a warm  friend  of  the  Burritt  family.  On  her  dying  bed  she 
gave  her  infant  daughter  to  Miss  DeLancey’s  keeping,  and 
she  wTas  faithful  to  the  trust.  Bringing  her  up  carefully  as 
her  own  child,  she  willed  her  a considerable  estate, — a farm 
of  129  acres  in  Yorktown,  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  and  all 
her  personal  estate,  including  a Negro  Slave, “ Hannah.”  Sus- 
annah Burritt,  named  after  her  benefactress,  married  Elijah 
Fowler,  in  1804,  who  died  in  1812,  leaving  two  sons,  one  of 
whom,  Samuel  Burritt  Fowler,  now  resides  at  Putnam  Valley, 
Putnam  County,  N.  Y.  She  married  second,  Charles  Adams, 
Dec.  1821,  and  had  a daughter  Charlotte,  born  in  1823,  who 
married  George  W.  Seeley,  and  resides  at  Lansing,  Mich. 
Mrs.  Susannah  Burritt  Adams,  died  at  Bristol,  Ind.,  Sept.  19, 
1881,  in  her  ninety-sixth  year,  the  oldest  as  well  as  the  young- 
est of  her  mother’s  twelve  children. 

Deborah  Burritt,  the  first  child  by  the  second  marriage, 


38 


inust  liave  been  born  as  early  as  1791,  as  lier  father  makes 
mention  of  her  in  that  year.  She  was  taken  to  Sherburne 
soon  after  her  fathers  death,  there  married  Milo  Hatch, 
and  died  Oct.  11,  1854.  Had  four  sons,  of  whom  three  sur- 
vive ; Wells  Burritt  Hatch,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Watson  A.,  of 
Loyd,  Wis.,  and  Albert  R.  Hatch,  of  Greeley,  Col. 

In  regard  to  the  youngest  child  and  soil  of  Rev.  Black- 
leacli  Burritt,  the  following  is  copied  from  the  old  Church 
records,  of  Winhall,  Vt.  : “March  the  3d,  A.  D.,  1793,  was  bap- 
tized Selali  Wells,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blackleacli,  and 
Deborah  Burritt.”  The  following  inscription  from  the  me- 
morial stone  at  his  grave  in  Sherburne,  N.  Y.,  shows  how  he 
was  cut  down  while  yet  in  the  bloom  of  youth  : 

“ Selah  Wells  Burritt,  youngest  son  of  Rev.  Blackleacli 
Burritt,  and  only  son  of  Deborah  Burritt,  died  Nov.  19tli, 
in  the  18  th  year  of  his  age.” 

“ Insatiate  Archer,  could’st  thou  not  spare  to  riper  age  the  virtuous 
youth, 

The  widow’s  only  hope,  the  staff  of  her  declining  years  ?” 

In  view  of  his  widowed  mother’s  helplessness,  in  her  old 
age  this  seems  an  almost  prophetic  as  well  as  sad  lament. 

This  interesting  group  of  Bev.  Blackleacli  Burritt’s  descend- 
ants of  fourteen  children  and  sixty  grand  children,  fourteen 
of  the  latter  of  whom  still  survive,  might  well  form  the  theme 
of  an  interesting  paper,  but  must  be  passed  by  without  fur- 
ther notice  here.  He  certainly  had  prolific  posterity  as  well 
as  a virile  ancestry. 

But  to  return  to  his  father,  Peleg  Burritt,  Jr.  : It  is  said 

that  within  a reasonable  time  after  the  death  of  Peleg’s 
first  wife,  his  mother  made  a quilting  party,  to  which  she  in- 
vited all  the  eligible  young  people  of  the  neighborhood,  and 
among  them,  Deborah  Beardslee.  She  recommended  Deborah 
as  the  most  sensible  of  the  girls  ; and  Peleg  took  her  for  his 
second  wife.  The  marriage  took  place  at  Ripton  Parish,  “ on 
the  evening  of  Thanksgiving  Day,”  as  the  record  says,  in  174G. 
She  was  born  at  Stratford,  Feb.  1,  1726,  and  was  the  great- 
granddaughter  of  Richard  Booth  and  Elizabeth  Hawley  his 
wife,  of  Stratford  as  early  as  1640. 


39 


Peleg  Burritfc,  Jr.,  took  the  Freemans  oath  April  13,  1741  ; 
is  mentioned  as  Peleg  Burritt,  Junior,  several  times  from 
1752  to  1761,  in  the  Society  records  of  Ripton.  At  a meet- 
ing held  at  his  house  Dec.  6,  1752,  he  was  chosen  Clerk, 
and  sworn  for  the  year  ensuing.  Was  also  Clerk  in  1753-4. 
In  1773-4,  he  is  said  to  have  joined  the  Connecticut  Colony 
in  the  Wyoming  Valley,  taking  up  his  residence  in  the  town- 
ship of  Hanover,  now  in  Luzerne  County,  Pa. 

“ Hanover  Green  ” was  laid  out  in  old  New  England  style 
containing  an  open  court  or  green,  flanked  on  two  sides  by 
the  homes  of  two  of  the  children  of  Captain  Peleg  Burritt, 
Stephen  and  Sarah,  each  with  its  symmetrical  front  yard, 
garden,  orchard,  &c.,  while  the  green  was  open  to  the  street 
at  the  front,  and  occupied  at  the  rear  by  a Church,  back  of 
which  was  a Cemetery.  The  whole  establishment  was  laid 
out  by  the  Burritt  family ; whether  by  Captain  Peleg 
Burritt  or  his  son  Stephen,  is  not  known.  But  all  this  hap- 
py scene  was  broken  in  upon  by  the  terrible  tragedy  of  the 
Wyoming  Massacre,  which  occurred  the  3d  day  of  July, 
1778,  and  in  which  Cyprian  Hibbard,  a son-in-law  of  Peleg 
Burritt,  husband  of  his  daughter  Sarah,  was  killed.  Although 
Mr.  Burritt  was  not  in  the  Wyoming  Valley  at  the  date  of  the 
battle,  his  wife  Deborah,  was  there,  and  rendered  efficient 
aid  during  the  escape  of  the  fugitives.  It  is  related  that 
all  the  books  aud  papers  belonging  to  the  Burritt’s  were 
hastily  thrown  into  a bag,  as  the  result  of  the  battle  became 
known,  and  that  inasmuch  as  the  first  thought  was  to  escape 
by  way  of  the  river  to  Sliamokin,  the  bag  was  hastily  thrown 
into  a boat  in  which  some  of  the  refugees  did  so  make  their 
escape,  and  thus  went  down  the  river  without  anyone  to 
care  for  it ; since  the  Burritt’s  changed  their  plan,  and  es- 
caped, with  many  others,  to  the  east,  over  the  mountains, 
to  the  Delaware  river.  The  important  consignment  was  after- 
wards traced  as  far  as  Sliamokin  or  Northumberland,  but  after 
that  was  lost  sight  of.  And  thus  were  lost  the  only  records 
and  papers  of  this  branch  of  the  Burritt  family,  brought 
from  their  early  home  in  Connecticut. 

It  is  related  that  Mrs.  Burritt,  on  the  hasty  retreat,  had 


40 


the  forethought  to  throw  upon  her  horse  a bag  of  flour ; anct 
that  was  the  sole  sustenance  of  a considerable  party,  on  their 
flight  to  the  Delaware.  On  camping  at  night,  or  halting  for 
refreshment,  she  would  form  the  meal  into  a cup  shape  in  the 
mouth  of  the  bag,  and  pouring  in  water,  would  mix  up  the 
meal  into  dough,  and  bake  it  upon  the  coals.  It  is  impossible 
now  to  find  out  who  formed  the  Burritt  contingent  in  this 
retreat.  Mrs.  B.’s  husband  is  supposed  to  have  been  at  the 
time  absent,  probably  in  Connecticut.  It  is  fair  to  presume 
that  all  of  their  children  may  have  been  present  in  the  valley 
at  the  time,  yet  one  or  more  of  them  may  have  been  with  their 
father  in  Connecticut. 

The  following  is  a partial  list  of  the  descendants  of  Peleg 
Burritt,  Jr.,  by  his  second  marriage : 

Gideon,  unmarried,  died  in  Hanover  township,  Luzerne 
County,  Pa. 

Sarah,  born  Nov.  19,  1750  ; married  first  Cyprian  Hibbard, 
Jan.,  1775;  second,  Matthias  Hollenback,  who  was  an  officer 
in  the  Battle  of  Wyoming,  and  escaped  from  the  massacre  by 
swimming  the  river.  He  was  entitled  Colonel  Hollenback. 
Sarah  Burritt,  lud  by  her  first  husband,  Hannah  D.,  born 
June  18,  1788;  being  thus  fifteen  days  old  at  the  time  of  the 
battle  and  massacre  of  Wyoming,  in  which  her  father, 
(Cyprian  Hibbard),  was  killed.  She  married  John  Alexander 
and  had  three  children. 

Thomas,  died  in  infancy. 

Sarah,  died  in  infancy. 

William  H.  Alexander,  married  Caroline  Ulp  ; Miss  E.  I. 
Alexander  of  Wilksbarre,  is  of  one  their  six  children. 

Sarah  Burritt  had  by  her  second  husband,  Judge  Matthias 
Hollenback : 

1.  Mary  Ann,  married  Laning  ; three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. One  of  her  grand-cliiidren  was  Mrs.  Anthony  J.  Drexel, 
of  Philadelphia. 

2.  Ellen  J.,  born  Jan.  21, 1788;  married  Charles  F.  Welles, 
born  at  Glastonbury,  Conn.,  1789,  son  of  John  Welles,  of 
Glastonbury,  born  1756;  son  of  John,  born  1729;  son  of 
Thomas,  born  1693  ; son  of  Captain  Samuel,  born  at  Wethers- 


41 


field,  1660 ; son  of  Samuel,  born  in  England,  1630  ; son  of 
Governor  Thomas  Welles.  There  were  nine  children  by  this 
marriage,  of  whom  Rev.  H.  H.  Welles,  graduate  of  Princeton, 
’44,  of  Kingston,  Pa,  and  Edward  Welles,  Esq.,  of  Wilkes- 
Barre,  are  two  of  the  six  surviving. 

3.  Sarah  Hollenback,  married  first  Jacob  Cist ; second, 
Chester  Butler  ; seven  children. 

4.  George  M.  Hollenback,  Wilkes-Barre,  born  Aug.  11, 1791, 
married  twice,  and  died  Nov.,  1866;  no  children. 

Mr.  Charles  F.  Welles  was  a man  of  large  property  in  coal 
lands. 

Stephen  Burritt,  son  of  Peleg,  Jr.,  married  a Miss  Keeler, 
and  had  Joel,  who  married  Ruth,  and  had  numerous  descend- 
ants, including  a grand-son  Joel,  now  of  White  Haven,  Pa. 
Also  Stephen,  had  a son  Stephen,  Jr.,  who  may  have  had  de- 
scendants, and  a daughter  Polly,  who  married  a Mr.  Dilley, 
and  was  the  mother  of  Rev.  Alex.  B.  Dilley,  of  Florida. 

Mary,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Peleg  Burritt,  Jr.,  was 
twice  married  but  left  no  children.  Captain  Peleg  Burritt,  as 
he  was  sometimes  called,  died  at  Hanover  Green,  Pa.,  Apiil 
10,  1789,  and  his  widow,  Deborah,  at  the  same  place,  Aug.  7, 
1802. 

Characterization  of  Rev.  Blacldeach  Burritt  is  not  wanting. 
He  is  said  to  have  been  a little  visionary  and  unpractical,  but 
very  pious  and  devoted.  He  was  strong  and  earnest  in  de- 
bate, and  as  evidence  of  his  controversial  powers,  it  is  related 
of  him,  that  meeting  a brother  minister  one  evening  on  the 
highway,  and  getting  into  a discussion  with  him  on  some 
theological,  doctrinal  point,  they  continued  there,  sitting  on 
horseback,  until  the  dawn  of  the  next  morning  ! He  pos- 
sessed wonderful  physical  strength  and  agility,  and  at  Col- 
lege was  noted  for  such  feats.  As  a preacher,  he  was  dis- 
tinguished for  readiness  and  a love  of  argument.  He 
preached  a great  deal  extemporaneously,  and  would  some- 
times take  a text  handed  to  him,  as  he  went  into  the  pulpit, 
and  preach  from  it  without  any  previous  preparation.  He 
was  a very  thoughtful  man,  a student ; but  so  occupied  with 
his  reflections,  and  the  study  of  life  and  immortality,  as  to  be 


42 


almost  indifferent  to  ordinary  mundane  matters.  It  is 
said  that  with  his  other  gifts  he  had  a glorious  voice  for  sing- 
ing, and  that  it  almost  carried  one  away  to  hear  him  in  some 
of  the  grand  old  anthems. 

The  following  extracts  from  a letter  of  Rev.  Blackleach 
Burritt  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Sarah  Hollenback,  wife  of  Colonel 
Matthias  Hollenback,  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Miss  E.  I.  Alexander,  of  that  place,  and  the  only  letter 
of  his  known  to  be  in  existence,  is  a striking  self  character- 
ization : 

Duanes  Borough,  N.  Y.,  December  28.  A.  D.  1791. 

Dear  Stster  : Your  Relations  in  this  Place  are  generally  in  good 
Health,  except  myself  who  for  a length  of  Time  have  been  more  fee- 
ble & Disordered  than  usual.  . . Stiles  Wells  has  lately  Returned 

from  Huntington  (alias  Ripton),  & informs  (me)  that  our  Frieud(s)  are 
in  good  Health  there.  . . Brother  Hubbell  & Sister  were  well  last 

Spring,  Since  which  Time  I have  not  heard  from  them.  . . I know 

not  but  you  are  ready  to  Imagine  I am  forgetful  of  you  & my  Mother 
& Brethren  in  Wyoming,  as  I have  not  Wrote  to  any  of  them,  since  I 
Received  your  Kind  Letter  Informing  me  of  the  Death  of  Father, 
which  was  the  First  Certain  Intelligence  I obtained  of  his  Death. 
“Our  Fathers,  where  are  they?  and  the  Prophets,  do  they  live  for- 
ever?” We  are  hastening  to  follow  them;  a few  more  Revolving 
Suns  brings  us  to  the  concluding  Scene  of  all  Earthly  Joys  & Sorrows; 
we  momentarily  hasten  to  the  House  appointed  for  all  the  Living. 

I am  not  unmindful  of  you,  & my  Relations  so  remarkably  Scattered 
from  Each  other,  as  I am  almost  Daily  praying  for  them,  in  my  Fam- 
ily, & many  Times  conversing  of  you  & them;  but  it  is  Rare  that  we 
have  any  opportunity  of  Conveying  Letters  from  this  Quarter  of  the 
Country  to  where  you  Dwell.  I desire  to  embrace  every  opportunity 
of  Writing  to  you  in  my  Power,  & wish  you  & my  Friends  near  you 
would  Do  the  Same  in  letting  us  hear  from  them.  I greatly  wish  to 
hear  of  the  State  of  Religion  in  Wyomen  in  General,  where  Discord 
hath  so  greatly  abounded  in  years  past,  & whether  they  obtain  Regular 
Presbyterian  or  congregational  Settled  Ministers  in  the  towns  in  gen- 
eral, what  Success  there  is  of  the  Preaching  of  the  Gospel  in  your  Part 
of  the  Country,  as  there  is  but  little  visible  good  Effect  of  the  Preach- 
ing of  the  Gospel  in  general  in  the  Northern  Part  of  this  State.  — 
Real  Godliness  is  the  All  Important  Concern,  without  which  nothing 
will  Serve  our  Turn  in  the  Hour  of  Death,  or  in  the  future  Judgment, 
to  which  we  are  swiftly  Hastening.  Temporal  Prosperity,  & External 
Privileges,  while  Zion  languishes,  and  the  Interest  of  that  glorious 
Kingdom  that  will  finally  brake  in  peaces  all  the  Kingdoms  that  have 


43 


opposed  it,  & stand  forever,  is  visibly  Discarded  among  us  in  our  Part 
of  the  land,  but  little  Satisfies.  — I am  greatly  concerned  for  my 
Friends  at  Turns,  least  Prosperity,  or  the  love  of  it,  should  Drown 
them  in  Destruction  & perdition.  Prosperity  is  genera  ly  far  more 
Dangerous  than  Adversity  to  Christians  in  Every  Age:  but  why  should 
I fear?  Since  Zion’s  Glorious  King  Reigns  in  wisdom,  Righteousness 
& Goodness,  & is  ever  Accomplishing  the  noblest  Ends  by  the  wisest 
& Best  of  ALL  possible  Means.  We  may  fear  for  them,  in  a partial 
View;  tho*  in  the  most  large  & Extensive  View,  there  is  the  utmost 
Reason  of  Rejoicing  in  the  Absolute  perfection  of  the  Divine  Govern- 
ment, or  Disposal  of  Events  in  Providence, — 

Perhaps  you  may  have  an  opportunity  of  Writing  to  me  by  Mr. 
John  Gray,  the  young  Man  who  is  the  Bearer  hereof,  a Neighbor  of 
mine,  on  his  Return  to  Duanesborough. — Pray  give  my  Dutiful  Re- 
gards to  Mother,  & let  her  know  I often  think  of  her  in  her  lonely  con- 
dition; my  youngest  Child  is  of  her  Name. — Give  my  love  (if  you 
Please,)  to  All  My  Breathren  & yrs.  and  my  unknown  Brother  will 
have  a share  among  the  Rest.  The  Bearer  is  waiting,  I must  Subscribe 
myself.  Your  Effectionate  Brother. 

united 

It  lias  been  stated  that  his  grave  at  Wipliall  was  unmarked. 
It  should  be  added  in  explanation  that  several  years  since  a 
sum  was  contributed  to  furnish  a stone  for  that  purpose,  but 
by  some  misdirection  it  was  placed  at  Manchester,  eight  miles 
away  over  the  Green  Mountains,  on  the  plot  of  one  of  his  de- 
scendants there.  The  following  is  the  inscription  upon  it : 
REV.  BLACKLEACH  BURRITT, 

Born  at  Stratford,  Ct.,  17 — , 

Died  at  Winliall,  Vt.,  1794. 

“An  earnest  Minister  of  the  Gospel,  a learned  and  upright  man, 
His  spotless  memory  is  piously  cherished  by  his  descendants.” 

A son  of  Fairfield  County  and  of  your  own  Stratford,,  he 
well  deserves  a place  in  your  annals,  and  is  worthy  to  be  held 
in  honored  remembrance  by  his  kindred  and  descendants 


Note.— Acknowledgement  is  made  for  kindly  aid  in  the  preparation  of  this  paper, 
to  Rev.  Samuel  Orcutt,  the  Historian  of  Stratford;  to  R.  B.  Lacey,  Esq.,  President  of 
the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society;  Rev.  W.  J.  Cumming,  of  Yorktown,  N.  Y.: 
Edward  Welles,  Esq.,  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  Mrs.  Col.  Loren  Burritt,  of  Owego,  N.  Y.; 
Mrs.  D.  E.  Sackett,  Cranford,  N.  J.;  Mrs.  C.  D.  Mosher,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  many 
others.  M.  D.  R. 


44 


MILLS  MEMORANDA. 

Rev.  Samuel  Mills,  son  of  Rev.  Jeclediali  Mills,  and  class* 
mate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Burritt,  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  pages, 
as  of  Bedford,  Westchester  County,  from  1769,  having  been 
ordained  as  pastor  of  the  Church  there,  Dec.  13,  of  that  year, 
remained  there  until  by  the  stress  of  the  Revolution  he  was 
obliged  in  1779,  to  remove  to  Fredricksburg,  North  Society, 
now  Patterson,  Putnam  County,  and  did  not  return  to  Bed- 
ford after  the  close  of  the  war,  though  strongly  urged  to  do 
so.  In  1789  he  became  an  Ana-Baptist,  and  so  severed  his 
relations  with  the  Dutchess  County  Presbytery.  He  soon 
after  removed  to  the  GeneSeo  country,  locating  at  Williams- 
burg, between  Geneseo  and  Mt.  Morris.  He  was  a pioneer 
preacher  in  that  region,  and  his  memory  was  long  cherished 
in  that  locality,  for  his  worth  and  devoted  piety.  He  died  in 
1813,  and  was  buried  in  the  Geneseo  cemetery.  His  widow, 
second  wife,  was  a sister  of  Colonel  Daniel  Humphrey,  an 
aides-de  camp  of  Washington.  He  left  four  sons,  viz:  Alex- 
ander, Lewis  F.,  Philo  and  William  Augustus  Mills,  the  latter 
of  whom  born  in  Bedford,  May  27,  1777,  located  at  Mt. 
Morris,  Livingston  County,  N.  Y.  Was  Major-General  in  the 
War  of  1812-15,  Supervisor  twenty  years,  a man  of  great  en- 
terprise, a large  landed  proprietor  and  active  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  died  April  6,  1844.  He  had  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Myron  Holly  Mills,  born  Dec.  8,  1820,  re- 
sides at  Mt.  Morris,  N.  Y.  He  graduated  at  the  Geneva 
Medical  College  in  1844,  was  Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  Army 
in  the  Mexican  war  ; was  in  practice  at  Rochester  from  1850 
to  1870,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Livingston  County 
Historical  Society,  President  of  the  Board  of  Education  and 
of  |lie  Mills  Water  Works,  author  of  a series  of  articles  on 
Indian  History,  has  delivered  many  addresses,  lectures,  &c., 
and  held  various  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  Another 
son,  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Mills,  of  Nevada,  Iowa,  graduated  at 
Yhale  in  1837,  was  for  a time  engaged  in  practice  of  the  law, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  the  ministry  since  1859. 


ADDITIONAL  DATA. 


Ira  Nichols  Burritt,  son  of  Samuel  Burritt  and  grandson  of 
Blackleach  Burritt,  Jr.,  as  appears  on  page  36,  enlisted  as  a 
private  on  the  first  call  for  volunteers  in  the  war  for  the 
Union;  was  at  Gettysburg,  in  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
and  in  front  of  Petersburgh,  was  severely  wounded,  promot- 
ed to  Captain,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
then  lived  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Nicholson,  and  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  Was  edi- 
tor and  publisher  of  the  Sunday  Herald  ; was  highly  respect- 
ed ; died  from  the  effects  of  his  wounds. 

Alice  Burritt,  sister  of  above,  whose  name  should  have  ap- 
peared on  page  36,  is  the  eldest  daughter  of  Samuel  Burritt 
and  Amanda  Nichols  his  wife.  She  studied  medicine,  gradu- 
ated in  New  York,  has  practiced  very  successfully  for 
thirteen  years  in  Oakland,  California,  and  has  been  vice- 
president  of  the  Medical  Association  of  that  state. 

The  widow  of  Samuel  Burritt,  and  mother  of  the  above, 
still  survives  at  Uniondale,  Pa.  Her  father  was  Eli  Nichols, 
son  of  Philo,  and  he  son  of  James,  all  of  the  noted  family  of 
Nichols,  early  of  Stratford,  Fairfield  County,  Conn. 

The  above  would  have  appeared  in  its  proper  place  had  the 
desired  data  been  furnished  in  time. 


THE  PILGRIM  FATHERS, 

AND 

What  They  Wrought. 


REV.  CHAS.  RAY  PALMER,  D.  D. 

READ  BEFORE  THE 


Fairfield.  County  Historical  Society. 
Bridgeport,  March  11,  1 892. 


The  Pilgrim  Fathers 

And  what  they  Wrought. 

An  inquirer  after  the  beginnings  of  the  colonization  of 
America  will  have  his  attention  directed,  first,  to  a French 
Colony  at  Port  Royal  in  1562,  very  soon  broken  up ; then  to 
another  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  John’s  River,  in  Florida,  de- 
stroyed by  the  Spaniards,  in  1565,  and  then  to  the  founding 
of  St.  Augustine,  by  the  latter,  in  the  same  year.  This  town 
claims  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  permanent  settlement 
by  Europeans  within  what  is  now  the  territory  of  the  United 
States.  It  needs  hardly  to  be  said,  however,  that  its  relation 
to  the]  evolution  of  the  great  Republic  is  entirely  insignifi- 
cant. The  next  beginning,  an  inquirer  will  observe,  is  the 
Roanoke  Colony,  in  1585,  the  earliest  English  attempt  at  a 
settlement.  In  a very  few  years  not  a trace  of  this  could  be 
found.  On  May  13,  1607,  Jamestown  was  selected  as  the 
site  of  a new  English  Colony,  and  this  date  is  chosen  as  the 
beginning  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia.  The  ruin  of  an 
old  church  tower  and  some  graves,  upon  an  island,  are  the 
only  remains  of  this  beginning,  and  the  real  life  of  Virginia 
dates  twelve  years  later,  with  the  coming  of  Sir  George 
Yeardley  in  April,  1619,  up  to  which  date,  the  would  be  Col- 
onists “repeatedly  suffered  an  extremity  of  distress  too  hor- 
rible to  be  described,”  and  were  more  than  once  on  the  verge 
of  extinction.  In  August  of  that  same  year,  a Dutch  vessel 
entered  the  James  River,  and  offered  for  sale  twenty  Negroes. 
The  trade  thus  inaugurated  supplied  to  a Colony  of  planters 
the  element  of  labor;  and  so  began  that  type  of  social 
life  which  become  characteristic  of  the  Southern  States  of 
this  Union.  The  next  beginning  was  that  made  at  Plymouth, 
in  1620 ; the  next  that  of  the  Dutch  at  Albany,  in  1623 ; 
the  next,  the  settlement  on  the  Piscataqua,  also  in  1623,  and 
the  next  that  of  the  Puritans  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  1 629. 
The  Great  Republic  is  little  more  Dutch  than  Spanish, 


46 


Practically  it  is  true  to  say  that  tlie  settlement  which  deter- 
mined the  future  of  America,  were  the  English  Colonies,  and 
that  the  successful  inauguration  of  these  lay  within  the  years 
from  1619  to  1630.  Confining  our  attention  to  these  a dif- 
ference appears  at  once  between  the  Southern  Colony  and  the 
two  New  England  Colonies.  Mr.  Bancroft  lucidly  sets  forth 
the  fundamental  principle  of  this  difference  thus:  “Unlike 
Massachusetts,  Virginia  was  a continuation  of  English  society. 
The  first  Colonists  were  not  fugitives  from  persecution  ; they 
came  rather  under  the  auspices  of  the  nobility,  the  Church, 
and  the  mercantile  interests  of  England  ; they  brought  with 
them  an  attachment  to  Monarchy,  a deep  reverence  for  the 
Anglican  Church,  a love  for  England  and  English  institu- 
tions. Their  minds  had  never  been  disciplined  into  an  an- 
tipathy to  feudalism,  their  creed  had  never  been  shaken  by 
the  progress  of  skepticism ; no  new  ideas  of  natural  rights 
had  as  yet  inclined  them  to  “faction.”  The  Anglican  Church 
was  therefore  without  repugnance,  sanctioned  as  the  religion 
of  the  State;  and  a religion  established  by  law  always  favors 
aristocracy,  for  it  seeks  support  not  in  conviction  but  in 
vested  rights.”  “ The  germs  of  an  aristocracy  existed  (from 
the  beginning)  and  there  was  a tendency  towards  obtaining 
for  it  the  sanction  of  colonial  legislation.”  “ The  aristocracy 
of  Virginia  was  from  its  origin,  exclusively  a landed  aristoc- 
racy.” “ The  power  of  the  rising  aristocracy  was  increased 
by  the  deplorable  want  of  the  means  of  education.”  “The 
mass  of  the  rising  generation  could  receive  little  culture.” 
The  direction  of  affairs  necessarily  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
few.  Moreover,  “many  of  the  Plebeian  class  had  reached  the 
shores  of  Virginia  as  servants,”  “ some  of  them,  even  were 
convicts.”  “ The  division  of  society  into  two  classes  became 
strongly  marked,  in  a degree  unequalled  in  any  Northern 
Colony,  and  unmitigated  by  any  public  care  for  education. 
The  system  of  common  schools  was  unknown.” 

In  this  Anglican  aristocratic  formation,  then,  we  see  the 
characteristic  type  of  society  as  it  developed  from  its  South- 
ern focus.  I need  not  tarry  to  emphasize  how  differently 
New  England  ultimately  developed,  nor  that  the  root  of  the 


47 


difference  lay  in  tlie  fact  that  its  settlers  were  fugitives  from 
persecution;  planted  Churches  that  were  not  subject  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  would  not  be ; organized  so- 
ciety on  more  Democratic  principles  ; were  solicitous  for  pub- 
lic education,  had  free  schools  and  free  presses  abundant, 
and  how  after  an  irrepressible  conflict  between  the  two  types 
of  civilization,  thus  originated,  it  is  the  more  sturdy  and 
complex  Northern  type  which  has  become  dominant  upon  the 
continent. 

While  this  unlikeness  of  Virginia  and  Massachusetts  has 
been  generally  understood,  it  has  not  always  been  as  well 
understood  that  in  the  formation  of  Massachusetts  herself, 
there  were  originally  two  very  unlike  elements.  About  two 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  the  four  New  England  Colonies, 
Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire  and  Connecticut, 
were  confederated.  Two  hundred  years  ago  the  Plymouth 
Colony  ceased  to  be,  swallowed  up  in  its  younger  sister  of 
the  Bay.  In  time  there  came  about  a forgetfulness  how  un- 
like in  their  early  history  and  development,  the  Colonies  thus 
united  had  been.  In  fact,  they  were  almost  as  unlike  each 
other,  as  either  of  them  was  unlike  Virginia.  Of  course  such 
historians  as  Mr.  Bancroft,  and  Mr.  Palfrey  do  not  fail  to  set 
forth  this  difference  as  it  was,  but  in  the  popular  apprehen- 
sion of  the  facts,  and  especially  upon  the  other  side  of  the 
sea,  it  has  been  largely  ignored.  The  late  Benjamin  Scott, 
for  the  last  thirty-four  years  the  Chamberlain  of  London, 
delivered  in  January,  1866,  and  afterwards  published  in  a 
pamphlet,  a lecture  before  the  Friends’  Institute  in  London, 
entitled  “The  Pilgrim  Fathers  Neither  Puritans  nor  Perse- 
cutors,” in  which  he  labored  to  overcome  the  obtuseness  of 
his  countrymen  in  this  particular.  He  republished  his  pam- 
phlet last  autumn,  complaining  in  his  preface  that  its  testi- 
mony was  still  needful.  He  put  upon  the  cover  the  follow- 
ing quotation  from  Dr.  Waddington.  “ The  ignorance  still 
existing  on  this  subject  is  almost  incredible.  We  find  men 
of  education  who  seem  to  have  no  exact  information  respect- 
ing the  origin  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers.  Quarterly  Keviewers, 
Vfembers  gf  Parliament,  Christian  Divines,  and  Ecclesiastical 


48 


Historians,  speak  of  them  with  the  same  complacent  disre- 
gard of  facts.  This  is  discouraging,  but  nothing  is  gained 
by  yielding  to  prejudice,  learned  or  illiterate,  and  the  only 
remedy  is  more  light !” 

I am  not  assuming  in  coming  before  you  to-night  that  the 
Fairfield  County  Historical  Society  is  in  especial  need  of  in- 
struction in  the  line  of  Mr.  Chamberlain  Scott’s  contention, 
but  in  response  to  a request,  I shall  emphasize  somewhat  the 
independence  of  the  current  of  influence  traceable  to  the 
Plymouth  Fathers,  and  indicate  some  points  of  difference  be- 
tween them  and  the  men  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 

Puritanism  properly  denominates  a movement  within  the 
Church  of  England.  Its  era  is  John  Hooper’s  “ scrupling  the 
vestments,”  and  refusing  to  take  the  oath  of  supremacy,  until 
King  Edward  VI,  had  run  his  pen  through  a part  of  it,  in 
1550.  Cartriglit  became  its  first  great  leader.  It  drew  in- 
spiration from  Geneva.  It  was  a grand  movement  in  respect 
of  its  moral  earnestness,  and  its  contributions  to  the  history 
of  the  English  people.  But  this  is  not  my  subject  to-night. 
The  Pilgrim  Fathers  did  not  become  exiles  from  England  be- 
cause they  were  Puritans,  but  because  they  were  something 
else — something  obnoxious  to  the  Puritans,  and  their  oppon- 
ents alike — Separatists  from  the  National  Church  of  England, 
for  conscience’s  sake.  There  were  Separatists  in  England  as 
early  as  1562,  but  the  era  of  the  movement  generally  recog- 
nized is  1582,  the  publication  of  the  book  in  which  Robert 
Browne  evolved  from  the  New  Testament,  as  he  believed, 
what  was  essentially  the  Democratic  system  of  Church  polity. 
Browne  relapsed,  and  died  in  the  communion  of  the  Church 
of  England.  But  the  principles  he  had  enunciated  were 
further  developed  under  other  and  stouter-hearted  leaders. 
Barrowe,  Greenwood,  (condemned  to  death  March  23,  1592,) 
and  Penry  became  the  martyrs  of  the  cause  and  John  Robin- 
son the  great  representative  leader,  “ The  Gospel,”  said  Mar- 
tin Luther  in  1524,  “ is  every  man’s  right,  and  it  is  not  to  be 
endured  that  any  one  should  be  kept  therefrom.  But  the 
Evangel  is  an  open  doctrine  ; it  is  bound  to  no  place,  and 
moves  along  freely  under  Heaven,  like  the  star  which 


49 


ran  in  the  sky  to  show  the  wizards  from  the  East  where 
Christ  was  born.  Do  not  dispute  with  the  Princes  for  place. 
Let  the  community  choose  their  own  pastor,  and  support  him 
out  of  their  own  estates.  If  the  Prince  will  not  suffer  it,  let 
the  pastor  flee  into  another  land  and  let  those  go  with 
him  who  will,  as  Christ  teaches.”  This  obiter  dictum  of 
Luther,  indicated  the  course  which  in  the  beginning  of 
the  next  century,  the  Separatists  of  England  were  con- 
strained to  take.  It  was  as  a self-originated  community, 
which  had  chosen  its  own  pastor,  and  for  liberty  had  fled  into 
another  land,  that  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  wrought  their  part  in 
the  colonization  of  America.  *“  Without  any  warrant  from 
the  Sovereign  of  England,  without  any  useful  charter  from  a 
corporate  body,”  without  any  ecclesiastical  head  but  one  of 
their  own  choosing,  without  any  civil  head  at  all,  they  set 
sail  for  a new  world.  They  left  Leyden  in  canal  boats  on 
July  21,  to  take  ship  at  Delftshaven,  about  fourteen  miles 
south,  on  the  Maas.  The  vessel  was  the  “ Speedwell,”  Rey- 
nolds master,  of  sixty  tons  burthen,  which  had  been  pur- 
chased and  fitted  in  Holland,  and  was  to  remain  with  the 
Colonists  in  their  new  home.  They  embarked  the  day  fol- 
lowing, and  made  a prosperous  j run  to  Southampton,  where 
awaited  them  the  “ Mayflower,”  Jones,  Master,  a chartered 
ship  of  180  tons,  which  had  come  thither  from  London. 
After  some  readjustment  of  passengers  and  lading,  the  two 
ships  sailed  together  Aug.  15.  Leaks  in  the  Speedwell,  or  as 
the  Pilgrim  leaders  thought,  in  the  courage  of  its  master, 
compelled  them  to  put  back  to  Dartmouth  for  repairs.  A 
second  outset  proved  equally  unsuccessful,  they  put  into 
Plymouth,  the  Speedwell  was  abandoned,  and  the  expedition 
was  consolidated  with  some  losses,  into  the  Mayflower.  She 
finally  sailed  from  Plymouth  Sept.  16.  By  this  loss  of  six 
weeks  time,  they  were  subjected  to  heavy  charges,  and  to  the 
misery  of  their  arrival  in  winter.  Rough  and  weary  was  the 
voyage,  but  it  ended  at  last.  On  Nov.  19,  they  sighted  Cape 
Cod.  On  the  21st  in  Provincetown  Harbor,  they  signed  their 
compact  of  civil  government,  and  chose  Carver  Governor,  and 


’Bancroft. 


50 


one  month  later,  Monday,  Dec.  21,  they  landed  upon  Ply- 
mouth Rock,  and  the  history  of  the  Plymouth  Colony  began. 
This  was  the  vanguard  of  the  Leyden  Church,  future  migra- 
tions brought  the  rest  in  installments,  and  accessions  from 
England  as  well,  some  desirable,  some  by  no  means  so.  It 
was  the  pioneers,  however,  who  gave  its  character  to  the 
settlement,  and  moulded  its  destinies.  Of  these,  at  the  date 
of  the  landing,  Brewster  was  a man  between  fifty-five  and 
sixty,  Allerton  was  thirty-seven,  Standish  was  in  his  thirty- 
sixth  year,  Bradford  in  his  thirty-second,  Carver  was  thirty, 
Dr.  Fuller  about  that  and  Winslow  twenty-five.  These  were 
the  real  beginners  of  New  England,  and  a remarkable  group 
they  were.  They  had  all  been  in  Leyden,  though  not  all  had 
been  in  the  original  Scrooby  Church.  Indeed,  Standish  nev- 
er joined  the  Church  at  all.  But  they  were  one  in  their 
counsel,  and  their  work.  “ Let  it  not  be  grievous  to  you,”  it 
was  written  to  them  from  England,  “ Let  it  not  be  grievous 
to  you,  that  you  have  been  instruments  to  break  the  ice  for 
others.  The  honor  shall  be  yours  to  the  world’s  end.”  Yes, 
the  honor  is  theirs  forever ! 

Now  as  to  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony.  The  transporta- 
tion of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  from  Leyden  to  New  England,  was 
of  course  an  operation  which  had  its  business  aspect.  The 
financial  burden  of  it  had  to  be  assumed  like  any  other  busi- 
ness operation,  by  competent  parties.  It  was  assumed  by 
certain  parties  in  London,  who  became  partners  in  the  under- 
taking, and  bound  the  Emigrants  by  an  agreement  with  them 
through  which  they  expected  to  derive  a share  in  the  ultimate 
profits  of  the  settlement.  The  relation  of  these  Adventurers, 
as  they  were  styled,  to  the  enterprise  was  wholly  a commer- 
cial one,  yet  naturally  gave  them  not  a little  power  to  influ- 
ence the  development  of  it.  Some  of  these  gentlemen  were 
Puritans,  who  disrelished  the  fact  that  the  Mayflower  compa- 
ny were  Separatists,  from  the  first,  and  as  time  went  on,  in- 
creasingly so.  When  the  Colony  was  an  accomplished  fact, 
they  desired,  and  intrigued,  to  capture  it,  and  bring  it  under 
Puritan  control.  They  made  repeated  attempts  in  this  direc- 
tion. They  sent  out  Emigrants  not  in  sympathy  with  the 


51 


Pilgrims.  Tliey  prevented  John  Robinson  from  joining  the 
Colonv.  They  sent  out  with  their  endorsement,  a minister 
of  their  own  selection,  John  Lyford,  through  whom  they 
hoped  to  counter-work  Robinson’s  influence,  and  carry  their 
point.  This  was  in  1G24.  The  endeavor  collapsed  through 
the  caution  of  the  Church,  and  through  the  break-down  of 
the  moral  character  of  the  emissary.  At  length  the  Puritan 
Adventurers  withdrew  their  cooperation,  and  the  company 
broke  up,  and  the  Pilgrims  finally  bought  out  their  London 
partners.  But  the  success  of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  and  their 
persistent  adherence  to  their  Separatist  principles  led  to  the 
projection  of  another  Colony,  one  that  should  be  of  the  right 
sort,  a Puritan  Colony  out  and  out.  The  times  were  favor- 
able for  the  enterprise.  The  Stuarts’  tyranny  was  making 
many  men  in  England  ready  for  a migration,  and  thus  the 
affair  took  shape,  and  it  prospered.  A charter  was  ob- 
tained for  “ the  Governor  and  Company  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,’’  many  men  of  character  and  substance  identified  them- 
selves with  it,  and  thus  came  about  the  settlement  of  Naum- 
keag,  or  Salem  as  it  is  now  called,  and  the  great  Puritan 
exodus  which  laid  the  foundation  of  the  State  of  Massachus- 
etts. I have  nothing  to  say  about  the  promoters  of  this 
movement  to-night,  except  to  emphasize  that  they  were 
Puritans , resolutely  determined  to  keep  themselves  beyond 
the  reproach  of  Separation  from  the  National  Church  of 
England.  They  came  with  a Royal  charter,  a body  politic  in 
virtue  of  that  fact.  They  wTere  careful  to  organize  their 
Church  by  the  authority  of  the  government  they  had  set  up. 
They  were  careful  to  maintain  the  legal  fiction  of  their  Na- 
tionalism, even  when  they  were  resolved  to  practice  “ the 
positive  part  of  Church  reformation,”  as  they  said,  which 
they  had  been  forbidden  to  do  in  England.  The  Plymouth 
people  looked  on  with  some  amusement,  but  cordially  ten- 
dered to  the  new  Church  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  The 
antipathy  of  Puritan  to  Separatist  in  England  had  been  very 
bitter.  On  this  side  of  the  Sea  such  an  antipathy  could  not 
be  maintained.  There  was  nothing  to  feed  it.  John  Robin- 
son had  ventured  upon  a prediction.  44  There  will  be  no  dif- 


52 


ference”  lie  said,  “ between  the  conformable  ministers  and 
you,  when  they  come  to  the  practice  of  the  ordinances  out  of 
the  Kingdom  of  England.”  His  words  proved  true,  although 
he  did  not  live  to  see  the  da}7.  But  the  fact  is  not  altered 
that  at  the  outset,  while  the  Ptymoutli  men  held  on  their 
way,  the  Bay  Colonists  made  their  own  wa}7,  and  exhibited 
both  the  excellences  and  the  narrowness  of  their  Puritan 
principles.  They  established  an  aristocracy,  as  truly  as  did 
the  Virginia  Colony,  but  it  rested  on  a different  basis.  The 
suffrage  was  restricted  to  Church  members.  It  was  intended 
that  only  Christian  men  should  be  entrusted  with  power. 
The  purpose  was  good,  but  it  proved  impracticable.  In  due 
course  Democracy  supplanted  it,  in  effect  the  Plymouth  De- 
mocracy. All  I wish  to  emphasize  is  the  difference  at  the 
start.  The  Puritans*  came  in  greater  numbers,  their  Colony 
outran  the  Plymouth  Colony  in  political  importance,  and  after 
one  and  seventy  years  absorbed  it.  But  the  Pilgrims  were 
the  pioneers,  their  point  of  departure  from  the  Old  World 
life  was  distinct,  and  the  ideas  which  they  brought  with  them 
and  the  institutions  they  inaugurated,  time  proved  to  be  the 
more  sagacious,  the  more  liberal,  the  more  enduring,  the  more 
expansive.  Although  their  Colony  became  ultimately  a town 
in  Massachusetts,  the  Pilgrims’  polity  and  the  Pilgrims’  pol- 
icy proved  to  have  in  them  the  greater  vitality  and  the  great- 
er adaptability,  and  supplanted  in  American  life  the  narrower 
notions  of  the  later  comers.  In  this  fact,  as  wrell  as  in  their 
ten  years’  priority,  lies  the  Pilgrims’  claim  to  be  the  real 
founders  of  this  Republic,  and  the  fact  becomes  more  and 
more  clearly  seen.  That  was  correctly  said  which  is  written 
of  them,  “ in  pursuit  of  religious  freedom,  they  established 
civil  liberty,  and  meaning  only  to  found  a church,  gave  birth 
to  a nation,  and  in  settling  a town  commenced  an  empire.” 
This  must  be  their  everlasting  distinction. 

Nor  was  it  an  accident.  They  did  wThat  they  had  been 
carefully  prepared  to  do.  Deep  and  solid  foundations  had 
been  laid  in  the  character  and  the  convictions  of  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers,  upon  which  were  to  be  builded  not  alone  the  super- 
structure of  their  own  personal  lives  and  fortunes  in  a new 


53 


Country,  but  of  a social  fabric  in  many  particulars  a far  ad- 
vance upon  any  ideals  men  had  as  yet  attempted  to  realize. 
Very  remarkable  were  their  religious  and  their  political  aspir- 
ations, very  thoroughly  matured  their  plans  ; and  both  these 
were  the  ripe  result  of  a special  and  a varied  experience. 
They  had  suffered  oppression  until  they  became  possessed  by 
a burning  desire  of  liberty.  They  had  made  sacrifices  to 
their  conscientious  convictions  of  truth  and  duty,  until  those 
convictions  were  endeared  to  them  beyond  all  price.  They 
had  become  used  to  hardships  and  difficulties  through  a 
long  exile,  and  had  waxed  strong  of  heart  and  of  will  in  the 
process.  They  had  been  agriculturists  in  one  land,  and  arti- 
zans  and  tradesmen  in  another,  and  in  both  had  been  indus- 
trious and  frugal,  and  had  lived  bej^ond  reproach.  They  had 
become  firmly  bound  together  by  ties  of  brotherhood  and  of 
mutual  obligation,  and  were  profoundly  impressed  with  the 
necessity  of  unity  and  order.  They  had  been  for  half  a gen- 
eration instructed,  counselled,  educated  by  a pastor  of  a large 
mind,  a large  heart,  a liberal  spirit,  a wide  culture,  wonder- 
ful force  of  character  and  strength  of  purpose,  until  they 
were  men  of  spiritual  enlightenment,  and  of  faith  that  no 
misgivings  could  weaken,  no  perils  could  daunt.  They  were 
men  not  so  much  prompted  to  adventure  by  the  desire  of 
personal  advantage,  as  filled  with  the  conviction  that  they 
had  a common  service  to  render  to  their  own  generation,  and 
to  coming  generations,  and  to  the  Kingdom  of  Christ.  With 
good  reasons  may  it  be  doubted  if  there  ever  was  such  a com- 
pany of  Colonists  before  or  since,  so  wonderfully  and  vari- 
ously prepared  for  the  precise  task  to  which  they  were  called 
in  the  Providence  of  God,  or  so  conspicuously  enabled  of 
God  in  the  face  of  all  difficulties,  antagonisms  and  losses,  to 
persist  unto  its  accomplishment. 

Some  of  the  contributions  of  these  pioneers  to  American 
civilization  can  never  be  forgotten  by  intelligent  and  patriotic 
American  citizens.  “Government  of  the  people  for  the  peo- 
ple by  the  people,”  was  Mr.  Lincoln’s  apt  description  of  De- 
mocracy. Where  did  it  originate?  When  and  where  did  it 
begin  ? History  answers  in  the  cabin  of  the  Mayflower , on 


54 


the  21st  of  Nov.  1520,  when  the  Fathers  made  and  signed 
their  compact  combining  themselves  into  a civil  body.  This 
was  done  in  accordance  with  the  counsels  and  instructions 
contained  in  John  Robinson’s  farewell  letter,  and  in  face  of 
the  manifest  necessity  of  their  situation.  It  is  a most  inter- 
esting instrument,  the  first  constitution  of  civil  authority  on 
American  soil,  the  first  written  constitution  of  civil  authority 
anywhere,  resting  government  primarily  and  wholly  upon  the 
consent  and  covenant  of  the  governed  ; the  germ  of  the  con- 
stitution of  this  Republic,  and  the  constitutions  of  its  forty- 
seven  States.  It  is  impossible  to  overstate  the  significance  of 
this  great  transaction  to  the  future  of  the  American  people. 
The  Colony  had  no  royal  charter  until  long  after,  and  the 
charter  when  it  came  found  it  a self-complete  society.  Justly 
does  Mr.  Bancroft  declare  the  signing  of_the  compact  “ the 
birth-hour  of  popular  constitutional  liberty.”  If  in  the  eyes 
of  Kings  and  Cabinets,  and  great  Municipal  Corporations 
that  little  organization  in  the  cabin  of  the  Mayflower  would 
have  seemed  a subject  for  mirth,  time  has  revealed  that  there 
was  in  it  solemnity  enough  to  make  it  memorable  while  the 
world  stands  ; the  beginning  of  wdiat  was  to  fill  and  master  a 
continent,  and  “ shall  never  perish  from  the  earth.” 

In  another  aspect  the  little  Colony  at  Plymouth  was  most 
noteworthy.  There  was  to  be  seen  for  the  first  time  just  that 
relation  between  Church  and  State  which  exists  in  this  Re- 
public to-day,  by  virtue  of  its  constitution.  There  was  a free 
Church  and  a free  State.  *“  There  was  no  identification  of 
the  one  with  the  other  ; no  subjection  of  either,  in  its  own 
sphere.  There  was  a free  Church  dependant  upon  the  State 
for  nothing  but  protection ; a free  State  in  which  the  Church 
had  no  control  otherwise  than  through  its  legitimate  influ- 
ence in  quickening  and  enlightening  the  moral  sense  of  the 
people,”  Theoretically  they  wrere  a detachment  of  the  Church 
in  Leyden,  in  charge  of  an  Elder  of  that  Church,  who  was  a 
layman.  Practically,  as  they  were  authorized  to  receive  new 
members,  and  elect  new  officers,  they  were  what  afterwards 
they  became,  the  Church  in  Plymouth.  Theoretically  and 


*Dr.  L.  Bacon. 


practically,  they  were  a body  politic,  a civil  society  in  Ply- 
mouth, with  Carver  or  his  successor,  as  their  magistrate. 
The  constituents  were  not  identical,  but  of  course  the  most 
of  the  men  were  members  of  the  Church  and  of  the  State, 
but  it  was  in  the  clear  and  definite  apprehension  that  in  the 
one  relation  their  head  was  Christ,  and  in  the  other  their  head 
was  King  James,  and  between  the  two  relations  there  was  a 
coordination,  but  a mutual  independence.  Nor  was  this  a 
legal  fiction,  but  a reality.  This  idea  of  the  independence 
and  self-completeness  of  every  body  of  believers,  organized 
of  its  own  impulse,  and  by  its  own  act ; the  idea  that  such  a 
body  is  a true  church,  and  as  such  is  responsible  to  Christ 
alone,  this  largest  conception  of  the  inherent  rights  of  be- 
lievers, and  the  sovereignty  of  the  individual  conscience ; 
this  conception  taking  shape  in  the  freest,  and  by  consequence 
the  most  Catholic  of  all  types  of  Christian  communion,  was 
unmistakably  the  ruling  idea  of  the  Mayflower  men.  It  was 
that  idea  to  which  under  Robinson’s  guidance  they  had  suf- 
fered, and  thought  and  felt  their  way.  And  it  is  this  Demo- 
cratic Congregationalism  of  the  Plymouth  men  which  has 
survived  and  has  been  perpetuated,  and  not  the  aristocratic 
Congregationalism  of  the  Puritans  of  the  Bay.  The  measure 
of  the  influence  which  this  conception  of  the  Church  exerted 
over  the  Plymouth  men  is  seen  in  their  superior  tolerance. 
After  the  Puritan  Church  was  organized  at  Salem,  two  heads 
of  families  protested  against  the  departure  from  English 
usage  upon  which  the  Church  had  resolved.  They  -were 
loyal  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  they  preferred 
to  adhere  to  the  Prayer-book.  They  had  their  choice  given 
them,  of  conforming  to  the  Church  in  the  Colony  or  return- 
ing to  England.  They  declined  to  conform  and  they  were 
sent  back.  That  was  consistent  with  Puritan^  principles,  but 
it  could  not  have  happened  at  Plymouth.  I have  said  that 
Standish  never  was  a member  of  the  Pilgrim  Church.  There 
is  some  reason  to  believe  that  he  was  a Roman  Catholic. 
But  he  was  the  trusted  and  beloved  military  leader  of  the 
Colony,  none  the  less,  and  in  all  respects  as  free  as  any  man. 
Nor  was  he  the  only  member  of  the  Plymouth  community  not 


56 


Connected  with  the  Pilgrim  Church.  In  rejoinder  to  a lettei4 
in  which  it  had  been  reported  to  them  that  their  enemies  said 
they  would  have  among  them  none  but  their  own  sort,  they 
officially  pronounced  the  assertion  false,  and  declared  that 
any  honest  men  who  would  live  peaceably  and  seek  the  com- 
mon good  were  welcome  there,  and  that  there  were  many 
among  them,  not  members  of  their  Church  whom  they  liked 
■well  and  of  whose  company  they  were  glad.  All  they  asked 
was  that  themselves  should  not  be  oppressed  in  the  place 
whither  they  had  come  so  far  to  find  freedom.  This  liberal- 
ity of  the  Plymouth  men  was  abundantly  shown  toward  Roger 
Williams,  and  received  ample  acknowledgement  by  him  in 
his  letters,  as  it  has  in  later  times  by  the  historians  of 
Rhode  Island. 

This  for  example  is  what  is  said  to  this  point  by  Arnold’s 
History  of  Rhode  Island.  “ The  spirit  of  Robinson  appeared 
to  watch  over  his  feeble  flock  on  the  coast  of  New  England, 
long  after  his  body  was  mouldering  beneath  the  Cathedral 
Church  at  Leyden.  Again  their  twelve  year’s  residence  in 
Holland  had  brought  the  Pilgrims  in  contact  with  other 
sects  of  Christians  and  given  them  a more  Catholic  spirit 
than  pertained  to  those  whose  stay  in  England  had  been 
embittered  by  the  strife  of  contending  factions  in  the  Estab- 
lished Church.  The  records  show,  that  as  they  were  distinct 
from  the  Puritans  in  England,  and  had  been  long  separated 
from  them  in  Holland,  so  did  they  preserve  that  distinction 
in  America.  The  Pilgrims  of  Plymouth  were  more  liberal  in 
feeling,  and  more  tolerant  in  practice  than  the  Puritans  of 
Massachusetts  Bay.” 

The  appearance  of  the  Quakers  in  New  England  was  so 
much  later  than  the  era  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers — thirty-five 
years  after  the  Mayflower’s  coming — that  it  seems  like  an 
anachronism  to  speak  of  the  two  together ; but  it  remains 
true  that  there  never  was  any  statute  against  Quakers  in  the 
Plymouth  Colony,  and  when  in  1659,  an  effort  was  made  to 
have  measures  taken  against  them,  by  the  Commissioners  of 
the  United  Colonies,  Isaac  Robinson,  the  son  of  Pastor  John 
Robinson,  who  was  then  one  of  the  Commissioners  on  behalf 


57 


of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  refused,  and  was  removed  from  his 
office  for  befriending  them.  Cudworth,  also,  and  Hatherly 
— Plymouth  Colony  men — suffered  the  same  deprivation,  and 
the  former  was  deprived  of  his  military  rank,  for  the  same 
reason.  “I  told  them,”  he  says,  “that  as  I was  no  Quaker, 
so  I would  be  no  persecutor.” 

I submit  that  men  who  were  tolerant  of  religious  diversity 
on  principle,  who  were  censured  by  their  contemporaries  for 
being  tolerant  in  practice,  who  were  acquitted  of  any  intoler- 
ant spirit  by  such  as  were  the  special  victims  of  intolerance 
elsewhere,  and  who  refused  under  severe  pressure,  to  become 
a party  to  intolerant  measures  originating  elsewhere — it  is 
grossly  unjust  to  brand  with  intolerance,  because  their  Puri- 
tan contemporaries  were  intolerant.  It  is  about  time  to  learn 
to  distinguish  men  who  so  widely  differed ! So  far  as  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers  were  concerned,  it  may  be  confidently  af- 
firmed that  Mrs.  Hemans’  lines  are  literally  true  of  them  ; 

“ They  left  unstained  what  there  they  found, 

Freedom  to  worship  God.” 

The  measure  of  the  influence  which  the  Democratic  Con- 
gregationalism of  the  Pilgrims  has  exerted  in  the  development 
of  the  religious  life  of  America  is  by  no  means  to  be  estimat- 
ed from  the  number  of  Congregational  Churches,  or  of  Con- 
gregationalists  to  be  found  in  any  denominational  list.  There 
is  no  Church  polity  on  this  continet  to-day — I do  not  except 
from  this  remark  the  Roman  Catholic — which  is  not  modified 
by  the  free  American  atmosphere  in  which  it  stands,  and  this 
atmosphere  you  will  not  account  for  until  you  find  that  men 
breathed  it  first  in  the  little  commonwealth  which  the  Pil- 
grims founded.  Indeed,  I seem  to  myself  to  recognize  ike 
exhalation  of  it  in  the  writings  of  John  Robinson  himself. 

A Connecticut  Poet  whom  some  of  us  remember  with  ven- 
eration, sings  in  lines  with  which  we  are  all  familiar : 

“ Laws,  Freedom, Truth  and  Faith  in  God, 

Came  with  those  exiles  o’er  the  sea.” 

About  the  “ laws,”  the  “ freedom,”  and  the  “ faith,”  there 
can  be  no  question.  If  there  be  any  rhetorical  exaggeration 
in  saying  truth  was  a passenger  in  the  Mayflower,  one  thing 


58 


must  be  recognized  as  beyond  a peradventure ; there  came 
with  the  exiles  a love  of  truth,  a reverence  for  her  sanctity, 
and  a delight  in  her  pursuit,  which  became  a permanent  ele- 
ment of  the  society  they  founded,  and  have  persisted  to  a 
wonderful  degree  in  their  descendants.  I wTas  extremely  in- 
terested some  two  years  since  in  a study  by  Dr.  H.  M.  Dexter 
of  the  sworn  inventory  of  Elder  Brewster’s  library,  which  he 
brought  to  light  from  the  Colonial  Becords,  and  illustrated 
with  the  wealth  of  his  Bibliographical  learning.  It  was  most 
interesting  thus  to  get  access  to  the  intellectual  life  of  this 
leader  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  and  get  a glimpse  of  that  with 
which  it  was  busied.  One  is  surprised  by  the  bulk  of  the 
collection,  by  its  richness  for  its  times,  and  by  the  fact  that 
in  only  two  years  out  of  the  twenty-three  of  Brewster’s  life 
at  Plymouth,  did  he  fail  to  add  to  it  some  fresh  importations 
from  England.  The  fact  is  set  in  the  clearest  light  that  this 
man  was  in  touch  with  the  best  thought  and  learning  of  his 
age.  He  was  but  one  of  this  Colony,  but  he  was  one,  and 
doubtless  in  some  sense  a representative  one.  The  leaders  of 
the  Pilgrims  were  unmistakably  all  of  them  men  of  intellect- 
ual force,  lovers  of  knowledge,  and  firm  believers  in  educa- 
tion. And  in  this  respect  one  need  claim  no  precedence  for 
them  as  compared  with  the  men  of  the  Bay.  But  they  were 
in  no  respect  behind  them  either.  They  made  their  own 
mark  upon  the  intellectual  life  of  New  England.  Is  it  an  ac- 
cident that  their  successors  and  representatives  have  been 
recognized  as  among  the  intellectual  leaders  of  their  time  ? 
It  was  said  a few  years  ago  of  the  Congregational  denomina- 
tion by  one  outside  of  it,  that  it  was  undoubtedly  the  fore- 
most intellectual  power  on  the  Continent  of  America.  The 
president  of  a college  presented  to  the  Congregational  Club 
of  Boston,  a year  or  more  ago,  a paper  entitled  “ The  Denom- 
ination which  Educates.”  This  paper  brought  out  the  fact 
that  the  Churches  so  described  had  been  far  in  advance  of 
any  others  in  the  founding  of  educational  institutions,  and 
had  justified  the  claim  on  their  behalf  that  they  had  been 
preeminently  the  educators  of  the  American  people.  They 
have  in  these  United  States  seven  Theological  Seminaries, 


59 


and  between  forty  and  fifty  Colleges,  they  have  established 
an  Academy  or  a Seminary  for  girls  within  easy  reach  of 
every  Church  of  their  order  in  the  land,  and  now  maintain 
eighty  schools  in  the  South  and  thirty-one  in  the  far  West. 
In  foreign  lands  these  same  American  Congregationalists  keep 
up  fourteen  Theological  Schools,  sixty-six  Colleges  and  High 
Schools  for  boys,  fifty-six  similar  institutions  for  girls,  and 
nearly  nine  hundred  common  schools.  I need  not  speak  in 
the  presence  of  this  audience  of  the  unequalled  influence  and 
prestige  of  the  great  University  in  our  own  neighborhood, 
nor  of  its  oiigin  in  an  Association  of  Congregational  ministers. 
But  it  is  in  point  to  say  that  the  example  of  these  far-sighted 
founders  of  nearly  two  hundred  years  ago  is  still  followed 
with  unflinching  courage,  and  unhesitating  self  sacrifices  in 
every  new  State  in  which  Congregational  ministers  find  a 
footing.  A school  in  every  district,  a Church  in  every  village, 
and  a College  within  reach,  is  still  the  motto  of  these  pioneers 
of  Christian  civilization.  The  old  blood  runs  still,  the  old 
aspirations  burn  still,  the  old  and  ever  new  hopes  sustain 
their  advance.  The  sons  of  the  Pilgrims  and  of  the  Puritans 
of  the  Bay,  cannot  forget  that  their  fathers  loved  learning, 
and  coveted  for  their  descendants  the  facilities  for  acquiring 
it,  with  a passion  only  surpassed  by  their  love  of  liberty  it- 
self. I ask  again,  is  this  an  accident,  or  is  it  the  persistence 
of  a certain  type  of  moral  force  ? 

The  most  memorable  and  characteristic  fact  about  the 
Mayflower  men  is  that  they  crossed  the  sea,  and  founded 
their  Colony,  asserting  the  sacred  right  of  a free  society  to 
act  for  itself  by  the  major  vote,  according  to  the  light  given 
it,  in  things  sacred  and  things  secular,  and  in  their  own  ex- 
ercise of  this  right  revealed  a political  sagacity  and  a religious 
liberality  which  command  the  highest  admiration.  They 
were  in  advance  of  their  contemporaries,  they  showed  the 
path  upon  which  their  posterity  have  advanced  into  the  larg- 
est civil  and  religious  liberty  as  yet  enjoyed  by  mankind. 
Beyond  a question,  it  seems  to  me,  they  were  the  true  begin- 
ners of  this  magnificent  Republic. 

Extraordinary  sometimes  is  the  contrast  between  the  meas- 


60 


ures  adopted  by  human  wisdom  and  those  chosen  in  the 
counsels  of  God.  The  sailing  of  the  invincible  Armada  from 
the  coast  of  Spain,  in  the  end  of  May,  1588,  for  the  conquest 
of  England,  was  an  event  most  imposing.  It  was  fitted  out 
by  the  greatest  empire  of  the  age.  To  the  eyes  of  that  day 
the  ships  which  composed  it  seemed  enormous.  The  number 
of  them  seemed  immense.  The  preparations  for  this  expedi- 
tion had  been  costly,  and  the  expectations  concerning  it  were 
vast.  It  set  out  in  the  midst  of  impressive  religious  ceremo- 
nies. It  was  deemed  sufficient  not  only  easily  to  overwhelm 
England,  but  to  conquer  the  worid.  Now  that  sort  of  enter- 
prise would  commend  itself  to  human  wisdom.  That  looked 
like  business.  From  such  an  endeavor  men  would  anticipate 
great  results.  But  from  the  little  vessel  crowded  to  discom- 
fort, which  dropped  out  of  the  port  of  Plymouth  in  England, 
on  the^Gth  of  Sept.  1620,  for  a voyage  across  the  ocean  to  an 
unknown  wilderness,  which  they  would  reach  in  the  depth  of 
winter,  who  would  have  anticipated  any  distinguished  per- 
formance ? Who  would  have  believed  that  in  her  went  the 
seeds  of  empire  ? How  foolish  would  have  seemed  the  pre- 
diction that  her  passengers  would  accomplish  a task  vastly 
more  significant  to  mankind  than  any  measure  of  state  then 
engaging  the  Cabinet  of  England  or  of  Spain  either ! But 
the  Armada  in  a few  weeks  met  its  fate  in  a disastrous  over- 
throw, which  filled  Spain  with  mourning,  and  became  the 
mockery  of  her  foes  ; and  the  Mayflower  brought  to  Plymouth 
Bock  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  whose  landing  is  commemorated 
in  the  Palace  of  the  British  Parliament,  and  in  the  Capitol  at 
Washington,  as  one  of  the  most  memorable  scenes  of  history, 
and  unmistakably  was  the  most  fruitful  event  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Verily  the  weakness  which  is  of  God  is 
stronger  than  the  might  which  is  of  men. 

Some  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  lived  to  exult  in  what  they 
had  wrought,  or  as  they  would  piously  have  said,  in  what 
God  had  wrought  by  them.  But  it  is  interesting  to  reflect 
how  little  they  imagined  the  actual  measure  of  their  work. 
Far-sighted  as  they  were,  how  impossible  was  it  for  them  to 
apprehend  the  dimensions  unto  which  it  has  expanded  al- 


61 


ready,  not  to  speak  of  what  the  future  shall  reveal.  u They 
builded  better  than  they  knew,”  yes,  indeed,  but  they  builded. 
They  “ did  the  duty  that  they  saw,”  in  magnanmity  and  her- 
oism, and  the  issue  has  crowned  their  work.  Men  who  have 
never  shown  a thousandth  part  their  moral  earnestness,  or 
wrought  a millionth  part  their  service  to  mankind,  find  it  easy 
to  gibe  at  them.  Critics  having  with  microscopic  observa- 
tion examined  the  record  of  their  lives  and  labors,  and  found 
them  not  in  all  respects  correspondent  with  the  highest  ideals 
of  the  last  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century,  make  haste  to 
decry  them,  and  find  the  ears  of  the  self-indulgent  more  than 
ready  to  listen.  But  this  surprises  no  one,  and  signifies 
nothing.  The  world  in  the  long  run  does  justice  to  the  men 
of  deeds.  The  men  of  quips  and  carping  words  are  soon  for- 
gotten. The  heroes  of  a great  fight  can  easily  endure  the 
mockery  of  carpet  knights.  And  as  generations  pass,  and 
the  centuries  roll  on,  there  stands  out  ever  more  clearly  upon 
the  page  of  history  the  fact  that  among  the  mighty  souls 
lifted  by  God’s  grace,  and  guided  by  God’s  providence  to 
great  and  important  services  to  the  world’s  progress,  and  to 
Christ’s  Kingdom  on  earth,  the  men  of  the  Mayflower  are  en- 
titled by  what  they  dared  and  suffered,  and  wrought,  and 
founded,  to  rank  among  the  largest  minded,  the  bravest,  the 
noblest,  the  most  worthy  of  remembrance.  Within  the  past 
year  men  have  set  up  new  memorials  of  them,  among  these  a 
monument  on  the  spot  their  feet  last  trod  in  old  Plymouth, 
has  been  erected  by  that  Municipality.  Greener  grows  their 
memory  and  fairer  their  fame.  But  after  all,  the  best  com- 
memoration of  them  is  the  continuance  in  the  life  of  the 
American  people  of  the  spiritual  forces  which  were  generated 
by  their  love  of  truth,  their  jealousy  for  freedom,  their  rev- 
erence for  law,  their  zeal  in  behalf  of  righteousness,  their  all 
conquering  faith  in  God.  This  is  as  they  would  have  it. 
Thou'gh  long  dead,  they  yet  speak,  to  say  to  their  posterity, 
“Not  unto  its , not  unto  us,  but  unto  God  be  all  the  glory!” 


THE  INSCRIPTIONS 


IN  THE 

Cemetery  at  Easton,  Conn. 

NEAR  THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH, 


As  Copied  in  May,  1892.  by  R.  B.  Lacey  and  Samuel  Orcutt,  for  the 

Historical  Society. 


Eli  Adams , Died  Feb.  19, 18G1,  JE. 
77. 

Huldah , Wife  of  Eli  Adams,  Died 
Dec.  29,  1862,  Aged  70. 

Eliza  Adams , Died  Dec.  26,  1862, 
JE.  74  y’rs. 

Frank  Adams»  Son  of  Andrew  B. 
and  Caroline  E.  Lyon,  Died  Apr.  13, 

1854,  aged  7 mo. 

George  JV.  Adams , who  died 
Oct.  17,  1851,  JE.  29  y’s.  5 mo.  & 6 
ds. 

John  S.  Adams , Died  March  7, 
1875,  JE.  58  y’rs  & 6 mo’s. 

Mary  If.,  Wife  of  J.  Sherwood  Ad- 
ams, Died  Dec.  11,  1890,  Aged  48 
years  4 mos. 

Rest  after  weariness. 

Crown  after  Cross. 

Alice  Alosia , Daughter  of  John  S. 
& Marietta  S.  Adams,  Born  Mar.  1, 

1855,  Died  May  12,  1856. 

Our  loved  ones  are  not  our  own. 
Erected  to  the  memory  of 
Boot.  Gabriel  Baldwin,  who 
died  Sept.  1,  1825,  aged  60  years. 


Sarah , Relict  of  Dr.  Gabriel  Bald 
win,  Died  June  9,  1852,  JE.  84. 

Died  April  10,  1817 

Mr.  Jared  Baldwin  in  his  87tli 
yr. 

John  Baldwin  died  July  7,  1840, 
JE.  73  y’rs. 

Naomi  Brinsmade , wife  of  John 
Baldwin  died  Dec.  16,  1812,  JE.  43 
yrs. 

Marianna  Whiting , Wife  of 
John  Baldwin  died  Sept.  12,  1819, 
JE.  42  yrs. 

Louisa  C.f  daughter  of  James  & 
Cornelia  Baldwin  Died  Oct.  30, 1847. 

JE.  4 y’rs  & 2 mo. 

Anna , daughter  of  Ezekiel  B.  O.  & 
Mary  O.  Banks,  Died  May  9,  1846, 
JE.  34. 

Bradley  Banks  died  June  16,1876. 
Aged  53  years. 

Freddie , son  of  Arthur  M.  & Mary 
A.  Banks,  Died  May  7,  1878,  JE.  4 
y’rs  8 mo’s  <&  2 D’s. 


64 


Gertie , Dau.  of  Arthur  M.  & Mary 
A.  Banks  Died  May  12.  1878,  JE.  7 
y’rs  4 mo’s  & 20  D’s. 

They  were  lovely  in  life,  and  in  death  they 
were  not  separated. 

George  AT.,  Son  of  Munson  & Al- 
mira O.  Banks  died  Jan.  25,  1849, 
in  liis  19th  y’r. 

Henry  B,  Banks,  Born  May  5, 
1836,  Died  March  29,  1886. 

Jabez  T.  Banks  Died  August  13, 
1885,  JE.  69  y’rs  7 m’s  8 d’s. 

Farewell  but  not  forever. 

Susan  A,,  Wife  of  Jabez  T.  Banks 
Died  July  20,  1875,  JE.  56  y’rs  7 m’s 
10  d’s. 

Mother  we  miss  thee. 

Joseph  T.  Banks  died  July  11, 
1860,  JE.  20  y’rs  7 m’s. 

Gone  but  not  forgotten. 

JMedad  Banks  Died  June  6,  1871, 
Aged  83  y’rs  1 mo,  & 10  Days. 

Polly,  widow  of  Medad  Banks  Died 
July  10,  1879,  Aged‘86  y’rs  8 mo.  & 
6 Days. 

In  memory  of 

Medad,  Son  of  Medad  & Polly  Banks 
died  Aug.  8,  1843,  JE.  14  y’rs  1 mo. 
6 ds. 

Pea . Morris  Banks  Died  May  12, 
1881,  JE.  65  y’rs  7 mo. 

His  faith  was  an  anchor  to  the  Soul. 

Father 

Munson  O.  Banks  Died  April  30, 
1888,  aged  81  y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Nehemiah  Bartow,  who  died  MaY 
24,  1822,  JE.  56. 

In  memory  of 

JVd.  Rebecca  Bartow,  who  died 
April  4,  1847,  JE,  80  y’rs, 


Sarah  A.,  Wife  cf  Baldwin  Beach 
Died  Aug.  22,  1886,  JE.  69  y’rs  4 
mo’s. 

Gone  but  not  forgotten. 

Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Baldwin  & 
Sally  Ann  Beach  Died  May  2,  1876, 

JE.  23  y’rs  lino. 

Death  came,  thou  art  gone,  alas  how  sad  the 
hour. 

Burr,  Son  of  Baldwin  & Sally  Ann 
Beach  Died  March  31,  1877,  JE  20 
y’rs  1 mo. 

God  called  our  loved  ones  from  earth,  the 
Will  of  the  Lord  be  done. 

Benjamin  BeardsleeEkd  May  4, 
1832,  JE.  54  y’rs  & 3 mo. 

Eleanor,  his  wife,  died  Nov.  14, 
1861,  JE.  72. 

In  memory  of 

Benjamin  Beardsley  who  died 
March  9,  1827,  in  his  88  year. 

In  Memory  of 

Elizabeth  Beardsley,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Beardsley  who  died  Oct. 
24,  1821,  in  the  80  year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 

Hannah,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Beardsley  who  died  Dec.  25,  1814, 
JE.  44. 

With  joy  she  passed  the  dreary  vale 
To  fairer  worlds  on  high. 

Joseph  Beardsley  Died  Dec.  18. 
1827  JE.  49  y’rs  10  mo.  15  d’s. 

Eunice , His  Wife,  Died  Jan.  1, 
1878,  JE.  87  y’rs  11  mo.  12  ds. 

Anson  Beers  Died  Aug.  16,  1886, 
Aged  83  y’rs  10  mos. 

Huldah,  His  Wife  Died  Feb.  1, 1853, 
Aged  61  y’rs. 

Andrew  Beers  Born  Mar.  9,  1801, 
Pled  Oct,  6,  1876, 


Mary  Wheeler , Wife  of  Andrew 
Beers  Born  Jan.  30,  1800  Died  Jan. 
31,  1889. 

Charles  N.,  Son  of  Andrew  & Mary 
Beers  died  Jan.  21,  1832,  aged  25 
days. 

Charity  B.  Beers  Died  March  26, 
1885,  Aged  79  y’rs  10  mo. 

Eliza  A.,  Wife  of  Benjamin  T. 
Beers  Died  June  27,  1872,  M.  44  y’rs 
8 mo’s  & 25  days. 

Safe  at  Home. 

Sylvia  J . daughter  of  Benjamin  T. 
& Sylvia  Beers  died  Aug.  11,  1847. 
iE.  1 y’r  & 3 mo. 

George  B.  Son  of  Benjamin  T.  & 
Sylvia  A.  Beers  died  Mar.  13,  1853, 
2Et.  8 m.  17  d’s. 

Sylvia  A.,  Daughter  of  Benjamin 
T.  & Sylvia  A.  Beers  died  Nov.  3, 
1853,  M.  3*yrs  9 mo’s. 

Isalinef  daughter  of  Benjamin  T. 
& Sylvia  A.  Beers  died  Jan.  13,  1857 
M.  9 mo’s. 

John  W.,  Son  of  C.  E.  & E.  A.  Hub- 
bell,  step-son  of  B.  T.  Beers,  Died 
March  8,  1877,  M.  24  y’rs  10  mo’s  & 
5 days. 

Earth  changed  for  Heaven. 

Burton  M.  Beers  died  Nov.  5, 
1829,  aged  33. 

Eunice , his  wife  died  Jan.  11,  1860, 
aged  63. 

Francies  L . Daughter  of  Aaron  & 
Sarah  Beers  Died  Jan.  28,  1854, 
Aged  15  Days. 

But  though  thus  early  called  to  die 
To  leave  this  world  of  care 
We  feel  that  she  is  placed  on  high 
A glorious  crown  to  wear. 

In  Memory  of 

Isaac  Beers  who  died  Oct.  9,  1829, 
aged  67  y’rs. 


Also 

Jemima  his  wife  died  June  17,1832, 

M.  56  yrs. 

Lillian  E . Daughter  of  Abel  R.  & 
Sarah  S.  Beers  Born  Sept.  22,  1862 
Died  May  9,  1891. 

Because  I live  ye  shall  live  also. 

Oliver  Beers  Died  Oct.  3,  1848,  in 
his  50  yr. 

My  Wife 

Mary , Wife  of  Wilson  W.  Beers 
Died  May  21,  1887,  aged  52  y’rs. 

Asleep  in  Jesus. 

Noah  Beers  Born  Jan.  20,  1818, 
Died  Aug.  17,  1864. 

In  memory  of 

Two  Infant  Sons  of  Aaron  & Hul- 
dah  Beers  died  Feb.  27,  1830. 

Sarah  L daughter  of  Birdsey  & 
Lucina  Beers,  died  Aug.  10,  1849, 
M.  6 y’rs  8 mo.  & 15  d’s. 

Dear  child  ! we  never  can  forget 
The  winning,  frank,  sweet  smile 
That  played  around  thy  rosy  lip 
And  did  our  hearts  beguile  : 

Heaven  took  thee  from  this  evil  world, 
Thou  wast  our  idol  here  : 

And  now  thou  dwellest  near  the  throne, 
Our  hearts  are  with  thee  there. 

Knowing  that  thou  art  blessed  above, 

Our  sorrows  we  restrain 
For  who  that  saw  thee  pass  away 
Would  wish  thee  here  again  ? 

And  though  thou  canst  not  come  to  us, 
Hope  whispers  when  we’re  free 
Thro’  the  abounding  grace  of  God 
That  we  may  come  to  thee. 

Anson  Bennet  Died  Sept,  25,  1813, 
M.  79  yrs  & 8 mo. 

Abigal  H.t  wife  of  Anson  Bennett, 
Died  March  17,  1869,  M.  52  y’rs  & 
6 mo. 

Father. 

Burr  Bennett  Died  July  9,  1879, 
M.  70  y’rs  5 mo’s  & 4 d’ys. 


06 


My  Wife 

Nancy , Wife  of  Burr  Bennett  Died 

Sept.  9,  1863,  2E.  52  y’rs  5 mo’s. 

George  B,,  Son  of  Burr  & Nancy 
Bennett  Died  Feb.  27,  1859,  M.  23 
y’rs  9 mo’s.  & 15  D’s 

Washington , Son  of  Burr  & Nancy 
Bennett  Died  Oct.  5,  1850,  M.  5 y’rs 
& 6 mo. 

Esther  L , Bennett  died  Jan.  10, 
1854,  Aged  28  years  & 6 mo’s. 

Joseph  H , Bennett  died  Nov.  19, 
1853,  Aged  30  years  & 9 mo’s. 

In  Memor}’’  of 

Joseph  Bennett * who  died  May  30, 
1844,  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 

Justus  Bennett  who  died  Nov.  6. 
1847,  M.  74. 

1 n Memory  of 

Eunice  Bennett  wife  of  Justus 
Bennett  who  died  Sept.  20,  1833. 

In  Memory  of 

Sarah  P,  Bennett , daughter  of 
Justus  & Annise  Bennett  who  died 
Sept.  24, 1833,  aged  34  years. 

Isaac  Bennet  died  May  2,  1860,  .ZE. 
90  yrs  & 9 mos. 

In  memory  of 

Mary  Bennet,  wife  of  Isaac  Bennet 
Esq.  who  died  May  16,  1841.  aged 
71  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Mr,  Isaac  Bennett  who  departed 
this  Life  December  10th  A.  D.  1791, 
in  the  82d  yeard  of  his  Age. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 

Mrs,  Mary  Bennett  Wife  of 
Lieut  Isaac  Bennett  who  was  born 
June  10th  1708  .and  died  July  5th 
1768,  Aged  60  years. 


Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 

Mr,  Justice  Bennett,  who  De- 
parted this  Life  Novmbr  23d  1772, 
In  ye  25th  Year  of  his  Age. 

In  Memory  of 

Najah  Bennett  who  died  Aug.  26, 
1821,  in  the  80  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 

Mary,  relict  of  Najah  Bennett  who 
died  Feb.  21, 1827,  aged  83  years. 

Nathan  Bennett  Died  Nov.  14, 
1878,  M.  93  yrs  & 8 mo. 

Sarah,  his  wife  Died  Sept.  10,  1864, 
M.  76  yrs  & 8 mo. 

In  Memory  of 

Mr,  Nathan  Bennett,  who  de- 
parted this  Life  Septr.  20tli  A.  D. 
1777,  In  the  34th  Year  of  his  Age. 
Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 

Mr,  Stephen  Bennett,  who  de- 
parted this  Life  March  31st  1773,  in 
ye  34th  Year  of  His  Age. 

S.  L.  [on  a field  stone] 

Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 

Beacn,  William  Bennett  who 
departed  this  Life  Febry  15tli  A.  D. 
1788  In  the  80th  Year  of  his  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs,  Catharine  Bennet  Relict 
of  Deacn  William  Bennet  who  died 

July  22d  1809  in  the  88th  Year  of  her 
age. 

In  memory  of 

Nathaniel  Burton  Bennit  son 
of  William  & Mary  Bennit  who 
died  Aug.  13th  1795  aged  15  months 
& 8 days. 

Alanson  B.  Son  of  Birdsey  & Lu- 
cina  Beers  Died  Nov.  9,  1870,  M.  22 
y’rs  & 10  mos. 

One  less  to  love  on  earth 
One  more  to  meet  in  Heaven. 


'For  Naomi  his  wife  see  next  to  Stephen  Gregory. 


G7 


la  memory  of 

Abigail , Daughter  of  Mr.  Daniel  & 
Mrs.  Mary  Blackman  born  Novr  2, 
1782,  died  Juue  14th,  1796  in  the 
14th  Year  of  her  Age. 

Little  Robert 

Bobert  A.  Son  of  Charles  W.  & 
Frances  E.  Blakeman,  Born  Aug. 
20,  1861,  Died  Sept.  5,  1861. 

In  memory  of 

William  Blackman , Son  of  Mr 
Daniel  & Mrs  Mary  Blackman  born 
Deer  26th  1773,  died  Novr  25th  1795 
Aged  21  Years  & 11  months. 

Behold  as  you  pass  by 
beneath  these  clods  I’m  laid 
In  this  cold  grave  I lie 
in  death’s  Impervious  shade. 

In  Memory  of 

Josiah  Booth , who  died  Feb.  — 
1812,  in  the  64  year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 

Sarah,  Wife  of  Josiah  Booth  who 
died  Sept.  20,  1804,  in  the  55  year 
of  her  age. 

Mary  F.  Thorp,  Wife  of  David 
T.  Booth  Died  Oct.  11,  1888,  2E.  37 
years  2 mo’s. 

In  Memory  of 

Jerusha  F .,  Wife  of  Charles 
Wheeler,  daughter  of  Burr  & Sarah 
Bradley  who  died  April  9,  1837, 
aged  25  years  11  mo  & 3 d’s. 

Sybil,  Wife  of  Abel  Bradley  Died 
Dec.  25,  1855  iEt.  75. 

Fred  Braunscheiger  Co.  G 17 
Regt.  Conn.  Yols.  Died  Oct.  20,1873. 

In  Memory  of 

Joannah,  Wife  of  Cyrus  Brinsmade 
who  died  April  15,  1804,  M.  36. 

Also  of  their  daughter 

Fanny,  who  died  Dec.  31,  1795,  M. 

5y- 


Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 

Mrs.  Naomi  Brinsmade,  wife 
to  Mr.  Joseph  Brinsmade  who  de- 
parted this  Life  Sept.  21st  1776,  in 
the  42  year  of  her  Age. 

Hariet  Bryan,  Wife  of  Titus  A. 
Bryan,  and  daughter  of  Elijah  & 
Patience  Seeley,  died  Feb.  19,  1836, 
aged  21. 

Strongest  ties  how  soon  they’re  severed 
Brightest  prospects  soon  are  gone 
Fairest  blossoms  soon  are  withered 
Borne  by  death  unto  the  tomb. 

Alfred  Barr  Died  Jan.  8,  1861, 
aged  70  y’rs  & 10  mo’s. 

Martha,  Wife  of  Alfred  Burr  Died 
Aug.  21,  1883,  aged  82  y’rs. 

Adeline,  Wife  of  William  Burr 
Died  May  4,  1871  M.  37  y’rs  5 mo’s 
& 2 days. 

Francis  Irving  Barr,  Son  of 
Alfred  & Martha  Burr  died  June  8, 
1836,  aged  4 years  & 2 mo’s. 

In  Memory  of 

Increase  Barr,  who  died  Nov.  17, 
1841,  M.  82. 

Bhoda  J.  Died  Dec.  4,  1827,  M.  6 
m.  & 7 ds. 

Joseph  B.  Died  Oct.  3,  1841,  M.  1 
y.  & 10  mo. 

l)eney,  Died  Jan.  5,  1842  M.  5d. 
Children  of  David  & Deney  Burr. 

In  Memory  of 

Marietta  Barling  who  died  Jan. 
19,  1860,  M.  17  y’rs  & 10  months. 

Mr.  Benjam  in  Burton  died  June 
26,  1816,  aged  27  years. 

Mr.  Cyrus  Burton  died  April  15, 
1812,  in  the  53  year  of  his  age. 

This  truth  how  certain,  when  this  life  is  o’er 

Man  dies  to  live  and  lives  to  die  no  more. 


68 


Iu  Memory  of 

Mrs . Anne  Burton  wife  of  Mr. 
Cyrus  Burton  who  died  July  19th 
1791,  Aged  31  Years  1 Mouth  & 11 
Days. 

[Field  Stone.  Probably  a Burton.] 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Elizabeth , Relict  of  Mr.  Cy- 
rus Burton  who  departed  this  life 
Jan.  7,  1826,  in  the  68th  year  of  her 
age. 

Mari/  Burton , Daughter  of  Mr. 
Cyrus  & Mrs.  Anne  Burton  died 
April  26th  1798,  Aged  4 Years  8 
months  & 13  days. 

[Field  stone.  No  lettering.  Probably 
a Burton.] 

In  Memory  of 

Mr.  Cyrus  It  . Burton , Son  of 
Mr.  Cyrus  & Elizabeth  Burton  who 
departed  this  life  Nov.  10,  1827,  in 
the  27  year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 

Jeremiah  Burton  who  died  Nov. 
5.  1827,  aged  40  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Mary , Wife  of  Jeremiah  Burton  who 
died  Oct.  15,  1827,  aged  34  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Silas  C.  Burton , who  died  June 
22d,  1844,  aged  71  years. 

Wrapt  in  the  shades  of  death 
No  more  that  friendly  face  I see 
Empty,  ah  empty  every  place 
Once  filled  so  well  by  thee. 

In  Memory  of 

Anna,  wife  of  Silas  C.  Burton  who 
died  Jan.  11,  1836,  aged  60  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Folly  M.,  Wife  of  Aaron  Beers  & 
only  daughter  of  Silas  C.  & Anna 
Burton,  who  died  Sept,  19tli  1827, 
aged  26  years 

With  joy  she  passed  the  dreary  vale 
And  soared  to  worlds  on  high. 


In  Memory  of 

Mr.  Solomon  Burton  who  died 
Ma}r  1st  1821,  aged  75  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Hannah,  wife  of  Solomon  Burton 
who  died  July  23,  1835,  aged  86 
years-. 

Amos  Can  dee  Died  Aug.  14,  1855, 
Aged  78  years. 

“ Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord.” 
Lydia,  wife  of  Amos  Candee,  Died 
Nov.  25,  1878,  M.  81  years  & 8 mo’s. 
Fletcher , son  of  J.  & C.  A.  Candee 
Died  Mar.  16,  1867,  M.  16  years  & 
3 mo’s 

He  sleeps  to  wake  again. 

Clara,  daughter  of  J.  & C.  A.  Can- 
dee Died  Jan.  19,  1867,  M.  11  y’rs 
& 4 mo’s. 

Gone  home. 

Lewelleyn  died  Sept.  2,  1869,  M. 

1 yr  & 3 mo’s. 

Benjamin  F.  died  July  9,  1872,  M. 

2 mo’s  & 15  D’s. 

[on  opposite  side  of  the  monument] 
Lewi  A Benny , Children  of  Jason 
& Caroline  A Candee. 

Wilber,  Son  of  Jason  & Caroline  A. 
Candee  died  Sept.  10,  1853,  Aged  2 
mo’s  & 10  ds. 

Dear  Wilber  around  thy  tomb 
May  sweet  flowers  forever  bloom 
For  while  in  dust  thy  body  lies 
Thy  spiiit  blooms  above  the  skies. 

Ly sunder  B.,  Son  of  Jacob  B.  & 
Julia  Case,  Died  Aug.  5,  1865,  aged 
18  yrs  & 10  mo. 

Not  lost  but  gone  before. 

Mary  Louisa,  wife  of  Charles  S. 
Clark  Died  Dec.  19,  1889,  aged  45 
y’rs  & 5 mo’s. 

William  Colley  Died  Sept.  7,  1843 
M.  73  years. 


69 


Rachel , wife  of  William  Colley 
Died  March  25,  1843  M.  71  years. 

Laura , daughter  of  William  & Ra- 
chel Coley  Died  Aug.  11,  1849  M.  52 
yrs  & 4 mos. 

William , Sou  of  William  & Rachel 
Coley  Died  in  Ogdensburg  Aug.  29, 
1830  M.  21  years. 

Charles,  Son  of  William  & Rachel 
Coley  Died  Jau.  26,  1815,  M.  1 year 
& 7 mo. 

Clara,  Widow  of  Robert  Curtis  Died 
Aug.  12,  1872,  aged  82. 

In  memory  of 

Mr,  Nehemiah  DeForest,  who 
died  Dec.  9,  1801,  in  the  58th  year 
of  his  age. 

The  wise,  the  just,  the  pious, 
and  the  brave, 

Live  in  their  death  and  flourish 
from  the  grave  ; 

Grain  hid  in  the  earth  repays  the 
peasants  care, 

And  evening  suns  set  but  to  rise 
more  fair. 

Henry  G . son  of  Levi  L.  & Ellen 
S.  Disbrow  Died  Feb.  10,  1867  M,  2 
mo’s  & 8 d’s. 

Death  seeking  whom  it  may  devour 
Came  to  our  home  one  mournful  hour 
And  took  away  our  little  flower, 

Our  Darling  Baby. 

Levi  L , Disbrow  Died  Jan.  23, 
1879,  M.  41. 

In  the  sweet  bye  and  bye 

We  shall  meet  on  that  beautiful  shore. 

In  memory  of 

Isaac  Downs,  who  died  Feb  21, 
1853,  ML  74  y’rs. 

Sarah,,  wife  of  Isaac  Downs,  died 
Feb.  10,  1857,  aged  77  3^ears  & 5 
months. 

Edward  Duncomb  died  Nov.  12, 
1837,  M.  77  y’rs. 


In  memory  of 

Anna,  wife  of  Edward  Duncomb 
who  died  June  18,  1848,  In  her  87 
year. 

Isaac  Duncomb  Died  April  3, 
1878,  M.  84  y’rs 

Anna,  His  Wife,  Died  Mar.  17,  1878, 
M.  88  y’rs. 

Charles  II,  Edwards,  Died  in 
Minneapolis,  Minn.  Feb.  12,  1879, 
aged  29  y’rs. 

David  S,  Edwards,  Died  in  New 
Orleans,  La.  July  19,  1863,  aged  34 
y’rs. 

John  Edwards  Died  Apr.  19, 1883, 
aged  86  years. 

Polly,  wife  of  John  Edwards  Died 
Feb.  9,  1838,  aged  36  years 

[A  single  stone] 

In  memory  of 

Polly  Edwards,  wife  of  John  Ed- 
wards who  Died  Feb.  9,  1838,  aged 
35  y’rr  & 5 mo. 

In  memory  of 

Lewis  Edwards,  who  died  May 
13,  1815,  in  the  44  year  of  his  age. 

Robert  Edwards  Co.  K 17tli 
Regt.  Conn.  Yols.  Died  Feb.  12th, 
1882. 

Eunice  M,  S,  Ely,  Died  Feby.  28, 
1868,  Aged  81  y’rs  & 4 mos. 

Wheeler  M,  Everitt  Died  Aug. 
13,  1879,  M.  63  y’rs  2 mo’s  & 25 
Days. 

So  he  bringeth  them  unto  their  desired  haven . 

Sarah,  Wife  of  Wheeler  M.  Everitt, 
Died  Jan.  31,  1864,  M.  50  y’rs  & 20 
D’s. 

Farewell  to  earth  and  dearest  friends 
I bid  you  all  adieu 
I’m  going  to  dwell  with  Jesus 
And  there  may  I meet  you. 


70 


Charles  B.  only  son  of  Wheeler  M. 
& Sarah  Everitt,  Died  Aug.  8, 1862, 
M.  26  y’rs  5 mo’s  & 9 D’s. 

Earth  has  his  dust. 

Friends  his  memory 

And  the  Redeemer  his  spirit. 

Elizabeth  Fillmore  Died  March 
29,  184$,  iE.  75, 

Sister. 

Emma  J . daughter  of  D.  S.  & C.  A. 
Fisher,  Died  Feb.  1,  1878,  aged  20 
y’rs  & 5 mo’s. 

My  heavenly  home  is  bright  and  fair 
No  pain  nor  death  can  enter  there 
Its  glittering  towers  the  sun  outshine 
That  heavenly  mansion  now  is  mine. 

Mother 

David  S.  Fisher  Died  Nov.  5, 
1886,  aged  66  years 
Buried  at  Middlebury,  Conn. 

His  Wife 

Esther  A . Died  Sept.  28,  1874,  aged 
57  years. 

At  Rest. 

Erastus  B.  Fisher  Died  Feb.  3, 
1879,  aged  61  y’r  8 mo’s. 

Mary  E , Fisher  Died  Aug.  25, 
1875,  aged  51  y’rs  11  mo’s. 

Edson  B.,  Son  of  Erastus  B.  & 
Mary  E.  Fisher,  died  Oct.  26,  1846, 
iE.  1 y’r  4 mo  & 22  d’s. 

Turney  Foot  died  Nov.  3,  1825, 
aged  41  years. 

Jemima , wife  of  Turney  Foot,  died 
Nov.  25,  1825  aged  32  years. 

French  [monument] 

Almon  j H.  French 

Louisa  L.  Wife  of  Almon  4T. 
French  Died  Oct.  14,  1887,  Aged  72 
years. 

Betsey  B.,  Wife  of  Levi  French 
Died  Oct.  1,  1879,  iE.  60  y’rs  3 mo. 
& 18  d’s. 

Gone  Home. 


Galloway  [monument] 

Laura  E.,  Wife  of  Robert  G.  Gal. 
loway  Died  Feb.  18,  1890,  aged  53 
y’rs  & 10  mos. 

Minnie  A.  T.,  Daughter  of  R.  G. 
& L.  E.  Galloway  Died  Sept.  5,  1877, 
aged  3 y’rs  8 mo’s. 

Albert  S.  Gilbert , Late  member  of 
Co.  H,  8th  Regt,  C.  V.  Died  May  7 
1864,  iE  20  y’rs  7 mo.  & 10  days. 

When  this  atrocious  rebellion  shall 
have  been  subdued  and  the  unwritten 
history  of  this  struggle  recorded, 
his  name  with  others  who  gave  their 
lives  to  secure  to  us  the  glorious  inher- 
itance handed  down  to  us  by  the 
Father  will  receive  the  appropriate 
niche  in  the  temple  of  fame. 

Henry  Gilbert  Died  Feb.  12,  1862, 
iE.  55  y’rs  4 mo.  & 14  days. 

Eliza , Wife  of  Henry  Gilbert  Died 
Dec.  27,  1853,  iE.  49  y’rs  & 6 mo. 

Emily  S.  Daughter  of  Henry  & 
Eliza  Gilbert  Died  May  7,  1856,  M. 
19  y’rs  5 mo. 

Sarah  11.,  Daughter  of  Henry  & 
Eliza  Gilbert  Died  Feb.  21,  1839,  2E. 
17  D’s. 

Sarah  Gilbert  Died  Sept.  16,  1878, 
iE.  54  y’rs  3 mo’s  & 20  days. 

Beuben  B.  Gilbert  Died  April  11, 
1846,  aged  44  years. 

Amanda  Louisa , daughter  of 
Reuben  B.  & Catharine  Gilbert  Died 
Jan.  6,  1843  iE.  4 yrs  & 10  mo’s. 

Daniel  B.  Glover  Died  Sept.  7, 
1866,  iE  83  y’rs  11  mo.  & 22  d’s. 

Eunice , Wife  of  Daniel  B.  Glover, 
Died  Mar.  17,  1873,  jE.  86  y’rs  7 mo. 

Lorenzo  B.  Glover  Died  Nov.  3, 
1856,  aged  37  y’rs  3 mos  16  days. 

Edwin  Godfrey  Died  Oct.  17, 
1880,  Aged  62  y’rs. 

Hope  softly  whispers  we  shall  meet  again. 


71 


Agnes  and  George 

Agnes  It.  Died  May  18,  1869,  2E. 
7 y’rs  3 mo.  & 10  d’s 

George  A.  Died  July  11,  1869  JE.  9 
y’rs  6 mo.  & 22  d’s. 

Children  of  Edwin  & A.  M.  Godfrey. 

John  Gray  Died  Sep.  6th  1887  Age 
63  y’rs  1 mo. 

Georye  W.  Gray  died  Sept.  2, 
1888,  aged  61  years. 

Gone  Home. 

Hattie  A.  daughter  of  G.  & E. 
Gray  Died  March  21,  1862,  JE.  6 
mo’s. 

In  memory  of 

Abel  Gregory , Esq,  who  departed 
this  life  Jan.  23,  1823,  aged  48. 

In  memory  of 

Lydia , Wife  of  Abel  Gregory  Esq. 
and  relict  of  Aaron  Sherwood,  who 
departed  this  life  Nov.  21,  1859, 
aged  84  y’rs  & 7 mo. 

Charles  C.  Gregory  Died  Jan.  2, 
1888,  jE.  58  y’rs  11  mo’s. 

His  Wife 

Mary  M . Died  Apr.  24,  1883,  2E,  48 
y’rs  5 mo’s. 

Our  loved  ones. 

Cordelia  and  Fannie.  We  miss  thee. 

Cordelia  A.  Died  Dec.  20,  1869, 
aged  14  y’rs  10  mo,  & 8 days. 

Fannie  J . Died  Dec  25,  1869,  aged 
6 y’rs  & 18  d’s. 

Children  of  Charles  C.  & Mary  M. 

Gregory. 

Lorinda , widow  of  George  Gregory, 
Died  May  29,  1887,  Aged  82 years. 

In  memory  of 

George  H,  Gregory , who  died 
May  17,  1834,  M.  27. 

How  short  the  race  our  friend  has  run 
Cut  down  in  all  his  bloom 
And  thus  the  Lord  reveals  his  grace 
The  youthful  love  to  gain 
The  soul  that  early  seeks  my  face 
Shall  never  seek  in  vain. 


In  memory  of 

Eiza  Ann , Daught’r  of  Clark  & 
Betsey  Gregory  who  died  April  1 , 
1836,  aged  3 years. 

In  memory  of 

Horace , son  of  Clark  & Betsey 
Gregory,  who  died  April  2,  1812,  M. 
1 year  & 8 months. 

In  memory  of 

Stephen  Gregory , who  died  Dec. 
2,  1817,  aged  66  years. 

In  memory  of 

Itlioda  Gregory  wife  of  Stephen 
Gregory,  who  died  Sept.  16,  1834, 
aged  80. 

In  memory  of 

Stephen  Gregory  who  died  Dec. 
22,  1832,  aged  44  years  7 mo. 

Naomi , wife  of  Joseph  Bennett 
Died  Jan.  30,  1845,  M.  72. 

Huldah , wife  of  Stephen  Gregory 
Died  Nov.  23,  1846,  M.  58. 

In  memory  of 

Col , Abel  Hall , who  died  Dec.  30, 
1836,  Aged  64  years. 

In  memory  of 

Sarah , Wife  of  Col.  Abel  Hall  who 
died  Dec.  31,  1855  M.  84. 

Died  Dec.  11,  1811. 

Eliza , daughter  of  Abel  & Sarah 
Hall  aged  1 year  & 5 mo. 

Benjamin  Hall  Died  Oct.  13, 
1886,  2E.  87  y’rs  & 1 mo. 

Bachel , wife  of  Benjamin  Hall, 
Died  Feb.  15,  1859,  2E.  60  y’rs,  6 
mo’s  & 16  D’s. 

Modesty  and  meekness  adorned  her  in  life 

Faith  and  hope  supported  her  in  death. 

Charles  B.  Hall  Died  Sept.  26, 
1874,  M.  55  y’rs  & 5 mo’s. 

Charles  E.  Hall  Died  Dec.  18, 
1861,  Aged  13  y’rs  1 mo.  & 8 Days. 


72 


Ebenezer  Silliman  Hall  Died 
Apr.  13,  1881,  Aged  85  y’rs. 

Eliza  Coley , His  Wife  Died  Apr. 
11,  1880,  Aged  81  Y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Edson  Hall,  who  died  Dec.  13,  1851, 
fflt.  26  y’rs  6 mo.  & 20  ds. 

We  miss  thee. 

In  memory  of 

Ezbon  Hall  who  died  Aug,  15,  1833, 
aged  80  y’rs  & 6 mo. 

In  memory  of 

Rhoda,  Wife  of  Ezbon  Hall,  who 
died  April  5,  1850  aged  95  years 

This  grave  is  mine  house, 

In  Memory  of 

Priscilla , Wife  of  Peter  C.  Oakley 
and  daughter  of  Ezbon  Hall,  who 
died  Sept.  25th  1815  M.  25. 

The  Almighty  spake  and  she  was  gone. 

In  memory  of 

Philemon,  son  of  Ezbon  & Rhoda 
Hall  who  died  May  23  1837,  aged  35 
y.  2 mo.  & 25  ds. 

Ye  holy  angels  guard  my  clay 
until  the  resurrection  day. 

Rhoda,  Daughter  of  Ezbon  & Rliorla 
Hall  Died  Feb.  10,  1888,  M.  89  y’rs 
11  months 

Gone  Homo. 

Ezra  Hall  Died  Nov.  3,  1876,  M. 
84. 

Esther  Hall  Died  Jan.  3,  1872,  M. 
74. 

Jennet  Hall,  daughter  of  Ezra  & 
Esther  Hall  Died  April  22,  1852, 
aged  19  years. 

Farewell  within  this  vale  of  tears 
A little  while  we  yet  remain 
At  most  tis  but  a few  short  years 
Till  kindred  souls  shall  meet  again. 

In  memory  of 

Mary  A,  wife  of  Harvey  B.  Hall, 
who  died  May  15,  1858,  aged  38  y’rs 
& 4 ds. 


An  Infant,  daughter  of  Harvey  B. 
& Mary  Ann  Hall  died  March  21, 
1844,  aged  2 d’s. 

Sleep  lovely  Babe 

And  take  thy  rest 
God  called  thee  home 

He  saw  it  best. 

Caroline  L.,  daughter  of  Harvey 
B.  & Mary  Ann  Hall,  died  July  19, 
1851,  M.  7 w’ks. 

In  Memory  of 

Mary  O.,  daughter  of  Harvey  B & 
Mary  Ann  Hall  who  died  March  31, 
1858,  aged  13  y’rs  9 mo  & 17  d’s. 

Sister 

Polly,  daughter  of  Aaron  & Polly 
Gould  Wife  of  Isaac  Hall.  Born  at 
Greenfield  Hill,  Ct.  Died  at  Easton 
Nov.  16,  1880,  M.  74  y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Nelson,  M.  10  years. 

In  memory  of 

Stiles,  M.  5 years. 

& 

Infant . [on  Hall  monument] 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 

Amanda  B . who  died  Dec.  6,  1822, 
aged  14  years  9 mo’s  & 3 days. 

Daughter  of  Isaac  & Polly  Hall. 
Reader  behold  as  you  pass  by 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  I 
As  I am  now  so  you  must  be 
O then  prepare  to  follow  me. 

In  memory  of 

Gideon  H,  Hall,  who  died  Jan.  22, 
1826,  aged  53. 

Ruth,  wife  of  Gideon  II.  Hall  Died 
Mar.  20,  1859,  Aged  88  y’rs. 

Isaac  Hall  Died  Oct.  29,  1874,  M. 
76  yrs  3 mos  & 8 d’s. 

In  Memory  of 

Polly,  wife  of  Isaac  Hall,  who  died 
Dec.  16,  1841,  aged  47  y’rs 


73 


James  TV . Son  of  Isaac  & Polly 
Hall  died  Oct.  18,  1858,  M.  16  y’rs  3 
mo.  & 7 D’s. 

Joseph  B.  Hall  Died  Dec.  6,  1866, 
In  the  74tli  year  of  liis  age. 

Prepare  to  meet  thy  God. 

Died  Sept.  6,  1823, 

Priscilla,  daughter  of  Joseph  B.  & 
Caroline  Hall  aged  3 years  & 2 mo’s. 

In  memory  of 

JosiahB . Hall , who  died  April  17, 
1858  Aged  82  y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Elizabeth , Wife  of  Josiali  B.  Hall 
who  died  Jan.  24,  1848,  M.  72  y’rs 
& 6 mo. 

In  memory  of 

Molly  Hall,  who  died  Jan.  17,  1875, 
M.  71  years. 

Alma  C wife  of  Nathan  E.  Hall 
died  Feb.  9,  1854,  Mt.  26. 

At  last  she  has  gone  to  rest 
We  have  laid  her  in  the  tomb 
But  her  Soul  is  not  dead 
For  God  hath  called  it  home. 

Mary  E.  daughter  of  Nathan  E.  & 
Alma  Hall  Died  May  20.  1857  M.  6 
y’rs  & 9 mo. 

I must  weep  when  I do  see 
These  lines  upon  this  Stone 
Since  God  was  pleased  to  take  away 
So  dear  a child  of  mine. 

[A  large  field  liead-stone  and  foot] 

Polly  Hall  died  March  30,  1852,  in 
the  51  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

Samuel  Hall,  who  died  Feb.  7, 
1831,  aged  22  years 

Gain  wisdom  from  this  mournful  stone 
And  make  the  Christian  cause  your  own. 

In  memory  of 

Simon  B.  Hall  who  died  Nov.  2, 
1848,  aged  22  years  & 9 months. 


Wildman  Hall  died  July  10,  1851, 
in  the  86  year  of  liis  age. 

In  memory  of 

Alley,  wife  of  Wildman  Hall,  who 
died  Jan.  20,  1843,  aged  78  yrs. 
Willett  J.  Son  of  George  & Adelia 
M.  Hall,  Died  Dec.  31,  1855,  aged 

10  mo. 

Dr.  Zalmon  H.  Hall*  Died 
July  25,  1867,  M.  72  y’rs. 

Wrapt  in  the  shades  of  death 
No  more  that  friendly  face  we  see 
Empty,  ah  empty  every  place 
Once  so  well  filled  by  thee. 

Charlie  L,  Died  Sept.  8,  1861,  2E.  1 
yr.  & 2 mo’s. 

Annie  M.  Died  Aug.  23,  1863,  M. 

11  mo’s  & 23  ds. 

Children  of  David  II.  & Sarah  A. 
Hard. 

Mary  Elsie,  Daughter  of  David  II. 
& Sarah  A.  Hard  Died  March  17, 
1858,  2E.  8 mo’s. 

Father  take  this  babe 
Embrace  it  in  thy  love 
A flower  too  pure  for  earth 
Buded  to  bloom  above. 

Harmon  Hard  Died  July  28,  1839, 
M.  46. 

Lydia,  Widow  of  Harmon  Hard 
Died  Jan.  12,  1874,  M.  71  y’rs  8 
mo’s  & 20  days. 

“Till  the  day  dawn  and  the  shadows  flee  away.” 

Eli  Hard  Died  Dec.  8,  1878  M.  47 
y’rs  8 mos.  Co.  D 23d  Regt.  C.  Y. 
Our  Darling  Boy  Charlie 
Charles  Harvey,  Infant  Son  of 
Charles  W.  & Frances  E.  Blakeman 
died  June  4,  1861. 

Ann  Maria  Heitzman  died  Dec. 
20, 1887,  M.  72  y’rs  5 mo’s  7 dsys. 

Rest  in  peace. 


The  beloved  Physician.  (R.  B.  L.) 


74 


Andrew  Heitzman , Born  Dec. 
26,  1818,  Died  Dec.  13,  1880. 

Rest  in  peace. 

In  memory  of 

Catharine  Hendrix  who  died 
May  22,  1840,  aged  63. 

In  memory  of 

Catharine  Hendrix , who  died 
Jan.  4,  1837,  aged  26  y.  9 m.  8 ds. 

Adieu  my  dear  mother,  adieu 
I love  thee  with  feelings  full  well 
O may  we  thy  footsteps  pursue 
To  meet  thee  in  glory  to  dwell. 

Obidiah  Hendrix  Died  Jan.  8. 
1835,  jEt.  70. 

In  memory  of 

Abigail  G.  wife  of  Obadiali  Hen* 
drix  who  died  June  13,  1836  aged  52 
y.  10  m.  8 ds. 

Esther , wife  of  Obadiali  Hendrix 
died  April  19,  1864,  M.  79  y’rs  & 9 
mo. 

In  memory  of 

Aby  Jenett, , daughter  of  Obadiali 
& Abigail  G.  Hendrix  who  died  Oct. 
7,  1839,  aged  17  y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Mahala  Hendrix , daughter  of 
Obediah  Hendrix  who  died  Sept.  1, 
1837,  aged  26  years  1 mo.  & 27  days. 

In  memory  of 

Daniel  Hill , who  died  July  25,1851, 
iEt.  46  y’rs  8 mo.  & 20  d’s. 

In  memory  of 

Elizabeth  Ann,  Wife  of  Daniel 
Hill,  who  died  Dec.  19,  1830,  aged 
26  y’rs  3 mo.  & 16  days. 

The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just 
Shall  flourish  when  they  sleep  in  dust. 

Dolly  Betsey , daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  Ann  Hill  died  April 
19,  1843,  aged  18  years. 


In  Memory  of 

Daniel  Holmes,  who  died  April  4, 
1828,  aged  73  years. 

The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just 
Shall  flourish  when  they  sleep  in  dust. 

Mrs.  Mary  Holmes , wife  of  Mr. 
Daniel  Holmes  died  April  29,  1813, 
in  the  58  year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 

Lydia  Holmes  wife  of  Daniel 
Holmes  who  died  Sept.  13,  1841, 
aged  65  years. 

Behold  and  see  as  you  pass  by 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  I 
As  I am  now  so  you  must  be 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 

Lydia , daughter  of  Daniel  and  Eliz- 
abeth Ann  Hill,  died  Feb.  13,  1858, 
aged  29  years. 

David  S.  Hubbell  Died  Nov.  26, 
1847,  M.  72. 

Dhebe,  Wife  of  David  S.  Hubbell 
died  Jan.  1,  1844  M.  72. 

Here  Lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Habbel  Who  de- 
parted this  Life  March  the  6th  1761 
in  ye  74th  Year  of  His  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Sarah  Hubbell  who  died 
May  20tli  1788  in  the  93d  Year  of 
her  age. 

An  age  which  few  Survive. 

In  memory  of 

Dolly , wife  of  Harvey  Hubbell,  who 
departed  this  life  Nov.  26,  1855, 
with  full  hope  of  a blessed  immor- 
tality, aged  56  years. 

Charles  Elliott , son  of  Harvey 
and  Polly  Hubbell  Born  Feb.  26, 
1825,  died  Jan.  24,  1854. 

Isaac  Hubbell  Died  April  22,  1873, 
Aged  76  y’rs  6 mos. 


75 


In  memory  of 

Nathaniel  Hubbell , who  died 
May  27,  1837,  in  the  91  year  of  his 
age. 

In  memory  of 

Sarah , wife  of  Nathaniel  Hubbell 
who  died  Dec.  8, 1835,  aged  85  years. 

Rebecca,  daughter  of  Turney  & 
Jemima  Foote,  Wife  of  Charles  El- 
liott Hubbell,  [Born]  June  2,  1833, 
[died]  Dec.  15,  1845. 

In  memory  of 

Stephen  llabbell  who  died  Feb. 
27,  1836,  aged  91  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Ithoda  Hubbell  Wife  of  Stephen 
Hubbell,  who  died  Aug.  15,  1826, 
aged  83  years. 

Eloisa  Hull  died  July  15,  1878, 
Aged  63. 

Hannah,  wife  of  Hezekiah  Hull 
Died  March  9,  1873,  M.  81  yTs. 

In  memory  of 

Adin  Jackson,  who  died  Oct.  9, 
1815,  aged  78  years  17  days. 

In  memory  of 

Sarah  Jackson  wife  of  Adin  Jack- 
son  deceased,  who  died  Aug.  28, 
1818,  aged  75  years  1 month  & 6 
days. 

In  memory  of 

John  Jackson,  who  died  Sept.  17, 
1810,  In  the  80th  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 

Jemvmah , wife  of  John  Jackson, 
Jr.  who  died  Feb.  26,  1841,  aged  73 
years  & 9 mo. 

In  memory  of 

Minor  Jackson,  who  died  Sept, 
16,  1828,  aged  57  y.  9 mo.  & 28  ds. 

In  memory  of 

Joanna,  wife  of  Minor  Jackson  who 
died  June  13,  1806,  aged  29  years. 


In  memory  of 

Selene,  daughter  of  Minor  & Joanna 
Jackson  who  died  June  20,  1815, 
aged  11  years  4 months  14  days, 

In  memory  of 

Nathan  Jackson  who  died  Dec. 
18,  1826,  aged  80  years. 

In  memory  of 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Nathan  Jackson 
who  died  March  22,  1824,  2Et.  79. 

In  Memory  of 

liollin  Jackson,  who  died  Jan.  21, 
1834  M.  26. 

Samuel  Jackson  Died  Oct.  15, 
1874,  M.  74  yrs  4 mo. 

Eliza,  Wife  of  Samuel  Jackson  died 
July  16,  1874  M.  66  yTs  8 mo. 

In  memory  of 

Elijah  Jenninf/s  who  died  April 
15,  1831,  aged  36  years. 

Huldah,  Wife  of  Elijah  Jennings 
died  Dec.  10,  1881,  M.  85  yTs  & 10 
mo’s. 

In  memory  of  an 

Infant  son  of  Elijah  and  Huldah 
Jennings  who  died  Dec.  15,  1825, 
aged  17  days. 

In  memory  of 

Nehemiah  Harlow  son  of-  Elijah 
& Huldah  Jennings  who  died  Nov. 
12,  1832,  M.  6 years  & 14  days. 

John  M,  Jennings  Died  Dec.  2, 

1867,  2E.  32  yTs  10  mo’s  & 23  ds. 

Ichabod  Jennings  died  Feb.  13, 
1864,  aged  87  y’rs  2 mo.  & 12  days. 

Sarah,  wdfe  of  Ichabod  Jennings 
died  May  30,  1840,  M.  66  years  & 
14  days 

Our  age  to  seventy  years  is  set 
How  short  how  frail  the  time, 

And  if  to  eighty  we  arrive 
We  rather  sigh  and  groan  than  live. 


7 G 


Moses , Son  of  Ichabod  & Sarah  Jen- 
nings died  June  10,  1820,  M.  9 yrs 
10  mo.  & 6 ds. 

In  memory  of 

Isaac  Jenninys  who  died  July 
20,  1851,  M.  49. 

Esther , wife  of  Isaac  Jennings  Died 
Sept.  12,  1878  M 74  y’rs  10  mo. 

Our  Daughter 

Ida  Lillian,  Adopted  daughter  of 
Charles  & Betsey  P.  Jennings  Died 
Nov.  3,  1872,  M.  17  y’rs. 

We  call  her  dead  but  well  we  know 
She  dwells  where  living  waters  flow 
Gone  to  her  “ Better  Home  ” above 
A world  of  light  and  joy  and  love. 

Our  Babies 

Infant  children  of  Charles  & Betsey 
P.  Jennings  Born  & Died  April  14, 
1857. 

Precious  gems  laid  up  in  Heaven. 

lihoda  Jenninys  died  Dec.  31, 
1832,  aged  57. 

l)ca.  Seth  Jenninys  Died  Jan  31, 
1870,  M.  79. 

Into  thy  hands  I commend  my  spirit 
Thou  has  redeemed  me  O Lord  God  of  truth. 

Caroline  S,,  daughter  of  Seth  & 
Caroline  ’Jennings  Died  March  30, 
1858  M.  32  y’rs. 

Asleep  in  Jesus,  oh  for  me 
May  such  a blessed  refuge  be 
Securely  shall  my  ashes  lie, 

Waiting  the  summons  from  on  high. 

Ehebe,  daughter  of  Seth  and  Caro- 
line Jennings  Died  Peb.  7,  1858,  M. 
23  y’rs. 

That  star  went  down  in  beauty,  yet  it  shineth 
sweetly  now 

In  the  bright  and  dazzling  coronet  that  decks 
the  Saviour’s  brow; 

She  bowed  to  the  Destroyer  whose  Shafts  none 
may  repel 

But  we  know,  for  God  hath  told  us,  He  doeth 
all  things  well. 


In  Memory  of 

Stephen  Jenninys  wrho  died 
March  26,  1834  M.  02  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Sally,  wife  of  Stephen  Jennings  who 
died  Jan.  28,  1840,  aged  62. 

We  loved  thee. 

Hattie  E . Wife  of  Simeon  H.  Jen- 
nings, Died  Dec.  21,  1866,  M.  22 
y’rs. 

Anna  Carrie,  daughter  of  Joseph 
W.  & Martha  J.  Johnson  died  Aug. 
14,  1862,  aged  1 yr.  & 8 mo. 

Anynsta  A.,  daughter  of  Nathan 
B.  & Areta  A.  Johnson  died  June 
17,  1849,  M.  5 yrs  & 2 mo. 

James  E,,  Son  of  Nathan  B.  & 
Arita  A.  Johnson  died  April  20, 
1842,  aged  1 yr.  & 2 mo. 

In  memory  of 

Earmelia,  wife  of  Ebnr.  Johnson 
who  died  Sept.  17,  1815,  in  the  39 
year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

The  Herd,  James  Johnson  first 
minister  of  the  Church  and  congre- 
gation of  the  Presbyterian  Society 
of  North  Fairfield  who  was  ordained 
the  14th  day  of  December  A.  D. 
1763,  and  continued  in  the  ministry 
until  his  decease  which  was  on  the 
18th  day  of  September,  A.  D.  1810, 
Aged  76. 

He  was  a faithful  Steward  in  the  service  of 
his  Divine  Master,  labored  assiduously  for  the 
Salvation  of  those  committed  to  his  charge. 

He  was  an  affectionate  husband,  parent  and 
obliging  neighbor,  worthy  Citizen,  a warm  and 
generous  friend.  Having  finished  his  course 
he  fell  asleep  in  the  joyful  hope  of  a glorious 
Resurrection  from  the  grave. 

“Mark  the  perfect  man  and  behold  the  up- 
right for  the  end  of  that  man  is  Peace.” 


77 


Sacred  to  the  memory  of 

Mrs.  Abiah  Johnson , Relict  of 
the  late  Rev.  James  Johnson,  who 
died  January  14th  A.  D.  1822,  in  the 
83d  year  of  her  age. 

Capt.  Janies  Johnson * Died 
Feb.  25,  1851,  aged  77  y’rs  & 24  d’s. 

Elizabeth  Johnson , wife  of  Capt. 
James  Johnson,  Died  Oct.  12,  1849, 
aged  75  y’rs  & 4 mo. 

Zenas  Johnson  Died  Sept.  20,1874, 
M.  72  y’rs  & 9 mo’s. 

AdeliaF  ranees, daughter  of  Zenas 
& Anna  Johnson  died  July  5,1837, 
aged  5 mo's. 

Tiro  Infant  sons  of  Zenas  & Anna 
Johnson,  who  died  March  21,  1833, 
IE.  5 weeks  & 2 d’s. 

Aurilla , Wife  of  Elihu  Judd,  Died 
Sept.  21,  1837,  aged  39  years  &9 
mo. 

In  memory  of 

Betty  Lacey , wife  of  Zachariah 
I.acey,  who  died  Dec.  9,  1841  aged 
82  years. 

In  memory  of 

Zachariah  Lacey  who  died  Oct. 
22,  1837,  aged  83  years. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

Mr.  Edward  Lacey  who  departed 
this  Life  June  ye  18th  1772  in  ye 
61st  Year  of  His  Age. 

In  Memory  of 

Deborah  Lacey , Daut  r of  Mr.  Ed- 
ward & Mrs.  Deborah  Lacey  who 
Died  March  1,  1769  Aged  17  months. 

Eli  Lacey  Died  March  16,  1849,  M. 
65  years  1 mo  & 5 d’s. 


Mary  M an  son,  wife  of  Eli  Lacey, 
Born  June  24,  1785,  Died  Dec.  30, 
1855. 

How  glorious  he  who  reigns  on  high 
Oh  let  all  Heaven  adore 
May  we  a full  fruition  find! 

When  time  shall  be  no  more. 

Died  Dec.  22,  1821 
Monson,  Son  of  Eli  & Mary  Lacey, 
aged  12  years 

Though  I walk  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death  I wtll  fear  no  evil. 

Jesse  Lacey , Born  March  7th  1789, 
Died  Jan.  24,  1837. 

Edna  Munson , Wife  of  Jesse 
Lacey,  Born  Jan.  18,  1788,  Died 
June  4,  1844. 

For  more  than  twenty-five  years  unable  to 
walk  she  bore  affliction  with  real  Christian 
heroism  and  eminently  realized  the  ideal  of 
the  wise  man  of  a true  wife  and  mother. 

Prov.  xxi. 

There  is  rest  in  Heaven. 

In  memory  of 

Mabell,  wife  of  John  E.  Lewis  who 
died  Aug.  23,  1843,  aged  22  years. 

Modesty  and  meekness  adorned  her  in  life 
Faith  and  hope  supported  her  in  death. 

roily  Olmstead,  Wife  of  Heze' 
kiali  R.  Lockwood  Died  July  6,1884, 
IE.  82. 

Clark  S.,  their  sou  died  Aug.  13, 
1858,  2E.  27. 

Cyrus  B.  Son  of  Hezekiah  & Polly 
Lockwood  died  Nov.  2,  1811,  IE.  1 
yr.  9 mo.  & 10  days. 

Andrew  Lyon  died  Aug.  4,  1826, 
IE.  61  yrs  & 11  mo. 

Mark  the  perfect  man  and  behold  the  upright 
for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peaee. 

Andrew  B.  Lyon  Died  Jan.  30, 
1861,  aged  46  years  & 3 mo. 

My  friends,  all  is  well. 


Son  of  the  Rev.  James  Johnson.  (R.  B.  L.) 


78 


Caroline  E.  wife  of  Andrew  B. 
Lyon  Died  Oct.  31,  1875,  M.  56y’rs 
10  mo.  16  d’s. 

E Stella , Daughter  of  Andrew  B.  & 
Caroline  E.  Lyon,  Died  June  20, 
1876,  se.  24  y’rs  8 mo.  18  D’s. 

Joseph  B.  Lyon , son  of  Andrew 
B.  & Caroline  Lyon  Died  May  6, 
1861,  aged  19  years  3 mo.  & 15  Days. 

Here  Lies  Buried  the  Body  of 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Lion  who  depart- 
ed Life  June  the  29,  1773  in  ye  63d 
Year  of  His  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Nathaniel  Lyon  who  died  May 
23,  1837,  aged  65  years. 

Katy , wife  of  Nathaniel  Lyon,  Died 
Dec.  13,  1858  M.  77. 

Nefyeniiah  Lyon  died  April  1, 
1842,  aged  70  years. 

[A  monument] 

Nehemiah  If'.  Lyon  Died  April 
19,  1860,  JE.  100  y’rs  8 mo. 

Sarah , Wife  of  Nehemiah  W.  Lyon, 
Died  April  23,  1827,  M.  67  y’rs  7 
mo.  & 18  d’s. 

[A  single  stone.] 

In  Memory  of 

Sarah , Wife  of  Nehemiah  W.  Lyon 
who  died  April  23,  1827,  aged  67 
years  7 mo’s.  & 18  d’s. 

Julia  Lyon , daughter  of  Nehemiah 
& Ruth  Lyon  died  Aug.  2,  1831, 
aged  28  y’rs. 

Hath  Lyon  wife  of  Nehemiah 
Lyon,  died  March  4,  1832,  aged  55 
years. 

In  Memory  of 

Georye  Frederick , Son  of  George 
& Ann  Jennette  Lyon  who  died 
Sept.  17,  1834,  2E.  5 mo.  & 25  d’s. 

Sleep  on  sweet  child  and  take  your  rest 
Thy  God  bath  called,  he  thought  it  best, 


Morris  Lyon  Died  June  22,  1851^ 
£6  41. 

Samuel  S.  Lyon  Died  Jan.  24, 
1843,  aged  24  years. 

Susan , Wife  of  Hanford  Lyon  Died 
July  25,  1888,  JE.  70  years. 

Sherwood  Lyon  Died  Feb.  2,  1876, 
aged  78  y’rs  1 mo. 

Sally , wife  of  Sherwood  Lyon  Died 
June  21,  1878,  aged  76  y’rs  10  mo’s. 

Walker  Lyon  Died  Nov.  23,  1873, 
JE.  83  years  & 6 mo’s. 

In  memory  of 

Eunice  Lyon,  Wife  of  Walker 
Lyon  Esq.  who  died  August  12,  1850, 
Aged  60  years. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord 
for  they  rest  from  their  labors  and  their 
works  do  follow  them. 

Emeline,  wife  of  Walker  Lyon 
Died  May  18,  1887,  JE.  80  y’rs  7 mo’s 
& 10  Days. 

William  Lyon  Died  July  18,  1861, 
JE.  77  y’rs  3 mos.  & 21  D’s. 

In  memory  of 

Eleanor  wife  of  William  Lyon,  who 
died  Oct.  31,  1829,  aged  44  y.  &5 
mo. 

Jesus  made  her  dying  bed 
Feel  soft  as  downy  pillows  are 
While  on  his  breast  she  leaned  her  head 
And  breathed  her  life  out  sweetly  there. 

Priscilla,  Wife  of  William  Lyon, 
died  Feb.  17,  1851,  Aged  61  years. 

Mr.  Zacliaridh  Lyon  died  June 
10,  1819  & was  74  years  old  the  19th 
of  Sept.  last. 

Mrs.  Jluth,  wife  of  Mr.  Zachariah 
Lyon,  died  July  19,  1805,  and  was 
65  years  old  the  20th  of  Aug.  last. 

Time,  how  short, 

Eternity,  how  long. 


79 


In  memory  of 

Mary  Lyon , wife  of  Zachariali 
Lyon  who  died  Aug  14,  1835,  aged 
80  years. 

Elmira  J . Keeler  Died  April  24, 

1870,  aged  36. 

In  memory  of 

Khoda  Mallett , wife  of  Seth  Mal- 
lett,  & daughter  of  Cyrus  Silliman 
who  died  Oct.  27,  1841,  aged  45 
years. 

Albert  B.,  Son  of  Christopher  B.  & 
Frances  It.  Marsh,  Died  March  5, 
1889,  M.  31  y’rs  & 10  mo’s. 

May  death’s  best  slumbers  occupy  thy  urn 

The  turf  that  hides  thee  natures  livery  wear 

O be  thou  sacred  in  the  silent  bourn 

Till  time  rolls  round  the  great  Sabbatic  year. 

j Florence  L daughter  of  Thomas 
A.  & Sarah  M.  Marsh  Died  Oct,  26, 
1876.  JE.  8 y’rs  7 mo’s  3 days. 

As  the  roses  in  the  garden 
Fall  and  wither  in  a day 
So  our  darling  little  Flora 
Faded  from  our  sight  away. 

Caroline  E.  Mellen  Died  May  7, 
1870,  aged  39. 

Zebina  T.  Mellen  Died  Jan.  25, 
1875,  JE.  42  y’rs  & 10  mo’s. 

“Not  lost  but  gone  before.” 

Elizabeth , Wife  of  James  Millen 
Died  Oct.  31,  1886,  aged  77  y’rs  3 
mo. 

“Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord.” 

Elizabeth  P.  Millin  Died  Oct. 
10,  1867,  Aged  49. 

In  memory  of 

Mary  Ann  Morehouse , wife  of 
Edson  Morehouse  and  daughter  of 
Cyrus  Silliman  who  died  Jan.  5, 
1842,  aged  36  years. 

Henry  B.  Nichols  Died  March  11, 
1889*  Aged  58  y’rs. 

At  Rost. 


Celestia  A.  Hard , His  Widow, 
Died  Jan.  16,  1890,  Aged  55  y’rs. 

Her  end  was  peace. 

Polly  J.  wife  of  Charles  Nichols 
died  April  12,  1859,  2E.  30  y’rs  8 
mo.  & 26  D’s. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 

Medora  J.  died  Jan.  17,  1855,  M.  2 
y’s  4 mo.  & 12  d’s. 

Charles  F . died  June  28,  1858  JE  1 
y’r  & 1 mo. 

Children  of  Charles  & Polly  L.  Nichols. 

In  memory  of 

Harriet , Wife  of  Jarvis  Nickerson 
who  died  Feb.  4,  1843.  Aged  23  y’rs. 

Also  an  Infant  aged  7 days. 

Hannah,  Wife  of  Rev.  L.  D.  Nick- 
erson Died  Mar.  25,  1832,  Aged  65 
years. 

Ann  Ol instead  Died  Feb.  28,  1869 
M.  80  y’rs. 

Susannah  L.,  Wife  of  George  W. 
Oliver,  Died  Aug.  3,  1864,  JE.  45 
y’rs  7 mo  & 16  d’s. 

Our  mother,  we  loved  her. 

Huldah  Celestia,  daughter  of 
George  W.  & Susannah  L.  Oliver, 
departed  this  life  Aug.  9,  1819,  2E.  1 
yr.  6 mo.  & 24  days. 

Suffer  little  children  to  come 

► unto  me  and  forbid  them  not 

for  of  such  is  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven. 

Bosillia  M,,  daughter  of  George 
W.  & Susannah  S.  Oliver,  Died 
April  25,  1864,  JE.  11  y’s  & 5 mo. 

Early  removed  from  life’s  embittering  woes 

Beneath  the  clod  her  mouldering  limbs  repose 

Her  spirit  pure  has  wdng’d  her  airy  flight 

And  soared  to  realms  of  unalloyed  delight. 

In  memory  of 

Anna  Osborn  Daughter  of  Mr. 
Jeremiah  & Mrs  Anna  Osborn  who 
died  Octr  25th  1793  Aged  4 Years  7 
Months  J day. 


80 


Franklin  Patterson,  Co.  M I 
Regt.  Art’y  C.  Y.  Died  Sept,  22, 
1874. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 

Mrs.  Sarah  Patterson , Who  de- 
parted this  Life  Nov.  the  19th  1772 
in  ye  29th  Year  of  Her  Age. 

Phebe  A.,  Wife  of  Wm  Patchen, 
Died  July  8,  1885,  JE.  40  y’rs  10 
mo.  & 20  Days. 

Thomas  Peek  died  July  14,  1813, 
JE.  58. 

Farewell  my  partner  and  children  dear 
Prepare  for  death  while  I sleep  here. 

Mother 

Phebe  A.  Peek  Died  Feb.  10,  1866, 
Aged  58  y’rs  &4  mo’s.  . 

Soon  we’ll  meet  thee. 

Marie tte  Peck  Died  July  25,  1855, 
ffit.  21. 

We  watched  thee  as  thou  wasted, 

Thou  dear  departed  one  : 

And  fain  would  have  lengthened 
The  race  so  early  run, 

Yet  let  there  be  no  weeping, 

Thou’st  gained  a brighter  sphere  ; 

We  would  not  call  the  back  again 
Nor  shed  for  thee  a tear. 

Harriet  Hendrix,  Wife  of  Sidney 
B.  Peckwell  Died  July  21,  1883,  M. 
67  y’rs  7 mo’s  & 3 days. 

In  Memory  of 

David  Pendleton , who  died 
Feb.  11,  1826,  aged  79  years. 

Alfred  Perry  Died  May  19,  1858, 
JE.  52  y’rs  & 3 mo’s. 

Caroline  Perry  Seeley  widow 
of  Alfred  Perry  Born  Feb.  20,  1807, 
Died  Dec.  26,  1887. 

Frank  A.  Perry  Died  April  5, 
1885,  aged  45  years. 

Harriet  JV.  Wife  of  John  L.  Perry 
Died  Sept,  3d  1869,  JE.  29  years. 

Hattie  thou  art  gone  to  rest. 


Sadie  S.  M.  Infant  daughter  of 
John  L.  & Anna  Perry,  died  June 
3,  1875. 

In  memory  of 

Amos  Platt , who  died  Jan.  29, 
1856,  Aged  88  years. 

In  memory  of 

Hannah , Wife  of  Amos  Platt,  who 
died  Apr.  20,  1840,  Aged  82  years. 
E.  L.  B. 

Joseph  Platt  Died  Sept.  2,  1858, 
Aged  54. 

Triumphant  in  his  closing  age, 

The  hope  of  Glory  shone 
Joy  breathed  in  his  expiring  sigh 
To  think  the  race  was  run. 

Mother 

Anna  S.  Platt  Died  April  15,  1876, 
JE.  76  y’rs  11  mo. 

Asleep  in  Jesus  blessed  sleep, 

From  which  none  ever  wake  to  weep. 

In  memory  of 

Sally , wife  of  Josiali  Platt,  who  died 
Oct.  8,  1830,  JE.  26  y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Alfred  S.9  son  of  Josiah  & Ruth 
Platt  who  died  Oct.  24,  1831,  2E.  3 
y’rs  & 5 days. 

Benjamin  Porter  Died  Dec.  22, 
1873,  Aged  82  yrs. 

Earth  has  his  dust 

Friends  his  memory 

And  the  Redeemer  his  spirit. 

Eunice  Porter  Died  May  3,  1862, 
aged  60  years. 

Earth  has  her  dust 

Friends  her  memory 

And  the  Redeemer  her  spirit. 

Isaac  Porter , Died  Jan.  3,  1872, 
JE.  82  y’rs  & 2 mo. 

We  loved  him  on  earth 
May  we  meet  him  in  Heaven. 

Betsey , Wife  of  Isaac  Porter  Died 
Feb.  5,  1881,  JE.  87  y’rs  & 10  D’s. 

Gone  but  not  forgotten . 


81 


Silas  H.  Porter  Died  April  5,  1883, 
Aged  66  y’rs. 

Hope  gently  whispers  “We  shall  meet  again.” 

Sister 

Enema  J.  L . Only  daughter  of 
Charles  S.  & Mary  E.  Powell  Died 
Jau.  14,  1890,  Aged  13  y’rs  7 mo’s  & 
11  Days. 

Sylvester  Died  June  15,  1857,  M.  6 
y’rs. 

Mary  Died  June  25,  1857,  M.  3 y’rs. 

Sarah  Died  January  7,  1858,  M.  8 
y’rs. 

Children  of  David  & Jane  Powell. 

William  Howell  Died  April  21, 
1863,  M.  79  y’rs. 

Mourn  not  dear  wife  that  I am  gone, 

Nor  sorrow  that  you  are  left  alone  : 

But  think  of  me,  prepare  to  die, 

For  sure  you  here  with  me  must  lie. 

Clarissa , Wife  of  William  Rowell 
died  April  8,  1875,  M.  89  y’rs  9 
mo’s. 

Gone  home. 

To  be  at  rest  in  Heaven. 

William  Howell  died  Oct,  17,  1840, 

M,  20. 

In  memory  of 

Lois,  wife  of  Daniel  Prindle  who 
died  Sept.  21,  1845,  aged  46  y’rs. 

In  Memory  of 

Joseph  Prince  who  died  Oct.  28, 
1826,  aged  87. 

In  Memorjr  of 

Martha  Prince  who  died  March 
13,  1818,  aged  74. 

In  Memory  of 

William  Prince , who  died  Feb. 
15,  1825,  in  the  full  hope  of  a happy 
immortality,  aged  78. 

Also  of  his  wife 

Hath  Prince  who  died  Jan.  23, 
1780. 


In  Memory  of 

Abigail , wife  of  William  Prince 
who  died  Nov.  1,  1797,  aged  39 
years  6 months  & 2 days. 

Thos . Henderson  Haymond, 
Died  Jau.  20,  1876,  M.  60  y’rs  3 
mo’s  11  D’s. 

Father  rests  from  his  labors. 

Eunice  Joanna  Thorp , Wife  of 
T.  H.  Raymond  Died  June  19,  1883, 
M.  67  y’rs  5 mo’s  6 D’s. 

Mother  is  at  rest. 

Edgar  Hich  was  the  treasure  to  us 
given 

And  pure  we  yield  it  up  to  heaven. 

Our  Angel  boy. 

In  memory  of 

Hezekiah  Howland f who  died 
June  8,  1837,  aged  65 years  3 mo’s  & 
7 d’s. 

Hnlah , Wife  of  Hezekiah  Rowland 
Died  Dec.  3,  1855,  aged  82  years  2 
mo  & 2 d’s. 

John  S.  Howland  Died  Mar.  10, 
1886,  aged  78  y rs  11  mo.  23  d’s. 

‘ Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord.’ 

Daniel  L.  Sanford, 


His  Wife 

Anna  Sanford  Died  May  26,  1883, 
aged  57  y’rs  5 mo’s  & 21  D’s. 

Yet  again  we  hope  to  meet  thee 
When  the  path  of  life  is  fled , 

Then  with  joy  in  heaven  to  greet  thee 
Where  no  farewell  tear  is  shed. 

In  memory  of 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Sanford  who  De- 
parted this  Life  the  16th  of  April 
1786  in  the  78th  Year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Sarah  Sanford  who  died 
March  20th  1809,  In  the  92  year  of 
her  age. 


Nathan  Sanford.  (Near  Mr.  Eb- 
enezer  Sanford.) 

Ebenezer  T.  Sanford  Died  Nov. 
22,  1873,  M.  79  years  & 7 mo’s. 

In  Memory  of 

Sarah*  Sait  ford,  wife  of  Ebenezer 
T.  Sanford  who  died  Aug.  2,  1849, 
In  the  57th  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

Sail)/,  wife  of  Ebenezer  T.  Sanford 
who  died  Sept.  22,  1817,  aged  24 
years. 

Also 

Joseph,  their  son  died  Aug.  27, 1817, 
aged  13  months  & 9 days. 

In  memory  of 

Eunice  Sanford , who  died  Feb. 
15,  1860,  M.  89  y’rs. 

Hannah  Sanford  Died  Sept.  25, 
1868,  2E.  77  y’rs  6 mo’s. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 

Mr.  Josiah  Sanford , who  de- 
parted this  Life  Aug.  7,  1811,  In  the 
65th  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 

Mary  Sanford , wife  of  Josiah 
Sanford,  who  died  Oct.  2,  1838, 
aged  81  years. 

In  memory  of 

Nathan  Sanford  Son  of  Mr.  Jo- 
siah & Mrs.  Mary  Sanford  who  died 
Oct.  1,  1773  Aged  10  months  & 20 
days. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Sarah  Sanford  who  died 
Feb.  25th  1809,  In  the  68  year  of  her 
age. 

Sylvia  Alosia , Wife  of  Stephen  M. 
Sanford  Died  April  4,  1881,  M.  28 
y’rs  & 3 mos. 


Aaron  Seeley  Died  May  3,1864,  M. 
88 

Clarissa  Seeley\ , Wife  of  Aaron 
Seeley,  died  Feb.  14,  1875,  M.  90 
years  5 mo. 

Esther,  Wife  of  Aaron  Seeley  Died 
July  16,  1824,  M.  43. 

Also  an  Infant,  their  son  died  July  10, 
1824. 

In  Memory  of 

Aaron  S.  Son  of  Aaron  & Esther 
Seeley  who  died  Jan.  18,  1810,  M. 
10  days. 

In  memory  of 

Anna,  daughter  of  Aaron  & Esther 
Seeley  who  died  Sept.  22,  1826,  in 
her  19tli  year. 

Farewell  my  lovely  daughter 
I bid  a short  adieu 
You  cannot  come  to  me  again 
But  I must  come^to  you. 

Elea/nor  A.  Wife  of  Bradley  C. 
Seeley  Died  Feb.  15,  1857. 

With  us  her  name  shall  live 
Through  long  succeeding  years 
Embalmed  with  all  our  hearts  can  give 
Our  praises  and  our  tears. 

In  memory  of 

J)ea.  Ebenezer  Seely,  who  died 
May  21,  1842,  in  the  82  year  of  his 
age. 

He  lived  and  died  trusting  in  God. 

In  memory  of 

Anna  Seeley,  wife  of  Ebenezer 
Seeley  who  died  April  14,  1813  in 
the  51st  year  of  her  age. 

? ‘ Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord 

from  henceforth : Yea  saith  the  spirit  that 

they  may  rest  from  their  labours  and  their 

works  do  follow  them.” 


* Daughter  of  Aaron  Lyon  of  Redding  Ridge.  (R.  B.  L.) 
f She  was  a Summers,  of  Cow  Hill,  near  Bridgeport.  (R.  B.  Lacey.) 


83 


Eunice  Seeley  Died  Nov.  27,  1848, 
M.  37. 


In  memory  of 

Eloisa , daughter  of  Ebenezer  & 
Anna  Seeley,  who  died  Sept.  10, 
1815,  in  the  16  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

jP Inlander  Horace , Son  of  Ebe- 
nezer & Anna  Seeley  who  died 
Sept.  3,  1815  aged  8 years. 

In  Memory  of 

Horatio  K,  Seeley , Son  of  Ebene- 
zer Seeley,  who  died  Sept.  24,  1824 
in  his  20  year. 

He  was  sincerely  beloved  and  respected  in  life, 

and  greatly  lamented  in  death. 

Elijah  Seeley  Died  March  9,  1851, 
M.  81. 

Patience , Wife  of  Elijah  Seeley 
Died  Feb.  20,  1863,  M.  88  y’rs  11 
mo.  & 3 d’s. 

Elijah , son  of  Elijah  Seeley  Died 
Sept.  5,  1815,  M.  13  y’rs. 

Eunice , daughter  of  Elijah  & Pa- 
tience Seeley,  Died  May  9,  1861,  2E. 
64  y’rs  & 3 mo. 

Elnathan  W.  Seeley  Died  Oct.  4, 
1840,  aged  52. 

Be  wise  to-day. 

Asleep  in  Jesus. 

To  the  memory  of 

Lucy  Seeley , Wife  of  Elnathan 
W.  Seeley,  born  in  Reading  Conn. 
Dec.  3,  1794,  died  in  New  York 
Nov.  30,  1835. 

Emily  Seeley , Died  March  1.  1884. 
M.  76  y’rs  4 mo’s  8 d’s. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord. 

Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 

Mr,  Ephraim  Selye  who  depart- 
ed this  life  Jan.  the  8th  1763,  In  the 
29th  Year  of  His  Age. 


In  Memory  of 

Ezra  Seeley , who  died  Jan.  31,1814, 
in  the  38  year  of  his  age. 

Sarah,  daughter  of  Ezra  Seeley, 
who  died  April  20,  1822,  M.  18. 

•‘Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.” 

Seeley  [monument] 

Ezra  B,  Seeley  Died  Feb.  29, 1864, 
M.  51. 

Eunice,  His  Wife  Died  Mar.  2, 
1863,  M.  45. 

Emily  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Ezra  B.  & Eunice  Seeley  died  April 
16,  1841,  aged  15  mo’s. 

Harriet  It,  Seeley,  Wife  of  Ezra 
S.  Seeley  Died  May  28,  1853,  Aged 
27  y’rs,  & 6 mo. 

Also  Their 

Infant  son  Died  May  21,  1853. 

Nay  do  not  weep 
You’ll  all  come  soon. 

To  the  memory  of 

'Tames  Seeley  who  was  born  Dec. 
5,  1794,  and  died  July  16,  1834. 

His  mind  naturally  strong  he  cultivated  with 
diligence.  He  was  an  enlightened  and  upright 
man,  an  active  and  valuable  member  of  society, 
firm  in  his  principles,  amiable,  frank  and  gen- 
erous in  his  disposition.  From  early  youth  he 
was  a steadfast  and  devoted  Christian,  and 
distinguished  for  zeal  and  faithfulness  in  the 
discharge  of  every  duty. 

He  was  universally  respected  and  beloved 
while  he  lived,  and  deeply  lamented  in  death. 
To  his  bereaved  widow  and  children,  to  his  sur- 
viving father,  brothers  and  sisters  his  memory 
will  be  precious,  and  the  recollection  of  his 
virtues  will  long  be  cherished  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous  and 
let  my  last  end  be  like  his. 


84 


Alma  Seeley , Wife  of  James  See- 
ley Died  March  30,  1857,  aged  58 
years. 

The  record  of  her  life,  engraven  on 
the  hearts  of  her  children  and  friends — 
a life  of  good  deeds,  kind  words,  and 
Christian  example — is  her  best  memorial. 
“Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord.” 

James  It,  Seeley 


Susie  E,  Banks  liis  wife.  Died 
may  22,  1878,  Aged  22  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Judson  IF.  Seeley  who  died  Dec. 
26,  1822,  aged  23  years  8 months  & 
20  days. 

In  the  midst  of  life  when  all  appears  so  gay 
God  sends  his  summons  forth  and  I obey 
Oh  must  I die  and  leave  the  world  behind 
I must  for  ’tis  the  doom  of  all  mankind. 

Julia , wife  of  Thomas  Seeley,  died 
June  2,  1861,  2E.  64  years. 

Thy  willing  spirit  glad  obeyed 
The  summons  to  the  skies 
Suffering  had  weaned  thee  from  the  earth 
Prepared  thee  to  arise. 

Julia  Seeley  Died  Jan.  5,  1877,  M. 
72  y’rs  7 mo. 

There  is  rest  for  the  weary. 

Seeley  [momument] 

Mallett  Seeley , Nov.  9, 1801,  April 
28,  1881. 

Caroline , wife  of  Mallett  Seeley, 
Jan.  22,  1801,  Sept.  28,  1885. 

In  memory  of 

Philander  S.  Seeley , who  was 
born  in  Weston  Nov.  22,  1825,  and 
died  in  New  Haven,  (while  a mem- 
ber of  Junior  Class  of  Yale  College) 
Sept.  19,  1847. 

In  the  hope  of  a glorious  imortality. 

His  memory  will  be  precious. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs,  JRehecca  Seeley  Wife  of 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Seeley  who  depart- 
ed this  Life  Feby  ye  16th  1773,  in  ye 
52  Year  of  Her  Age. 


In  memory  of 

lloswell,  Son  of  Aaron  & Esther 
Seeley  who  died  Nov.  27,  1832,  in 
the  29  year  of  his  age. 

Go  home  dear  friends  dry  up  your  tears 
I must  lie  here  till  Christ  appears 
My  debt  is  paid  my  grave  you  see 
Prepare  yourselves  to  follow  me. 

Samuel  Seeley , Born  Sept.  2,  1814, 
Died  Nov.  23,  1874. 

Effie  May , Daughter  of  Samuel  & 
Josephine  C.  Seeley  Born  Sept.  29, 
1861.  Died  May  15,  1887. 

At  Best. 

Sherwood  Seeley  died  July  30, 
1858.  M.  78  y’rs  & 4 mo’s. 

Mary , Wife  of  Sherwood  Seeley 
died  Jan.  4,  1879,  aged  96  yrs  6 
mos. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Stephen  Seelye  Who  depart- 
ed this  Life  Jany  ye  30th  1767,  in  ye 
31st  Year  of  His  Age. 

William  Seeley  died  Nov.  24, 1880, 
Aged  81  years. 

L.  S,9  [small  marble  stone] 

Wm.  A.  Seeley  Died  Jan.  26,  1874, 
M.  25  y’rs  & 4 mo’s  & 15  Days. 

Wm,  H,  Sharot , Died  May  17, 
1864,  2E.  33  yrs  5 mo.  & 20  d’s. 
Ebenezer  Sherman  died  Oct.  23, 
1822,  aged  70. 

In  memory  of 

Amy  Sherman , wife  of  Ebenezer 
Sherman,  died  Dec.  26,  1807,  M.  51. 

Leaving  an  afflicted  family  to  mourn  an  irre- 
parable loss. 

Thy  darts  O death  that  fly  promiscuous  round 
In  such  a victim  may  others  wound. 

In  Memory  of 

Mary  Sherman  wife  of  Daniel 
Sherman  who  died  March  10,  1799 
M.  73, 


85 


[Sherman  monument] 

Philo  B.  Sherman  Died  Oct.  6, 
1885,  Aged  77. 

Amelia  His  Wife  Died  Nov.  7,  1871, 
Aged  64. 

In  memory  of 

Mr.  David  Sherwood  who  died 
Sept.  19,  1815,  aged  36  years. 

In  memory  of 

Polly , Wife  of  Jonathan  Gould, 
formerly  wife  of  David  Sherwood, 
who  died  Jan.  22,  1820,  aged  40  y’s. 

In  memory  of 

Edson  J .,  son  of  David  & Polly 
Sherwood  who  died  August  31, 
1821  aged  11  y’s. 

In  Memory  of 

Mrs.  Ann  Shernood , wife  of  Mr. 
David  Sherwood,  who  died  July 
30th  1803,  in  the  23d  year  of  her 
age. 

David  TV.,  son  of  David  W.  and 
Harriet  Sherwood  died  May  8,  1840, 
M.  1 y'r.  & 8 mo’s. 

This  lovely  plant  we  wished  to  raise 
Resign  it  here  we  must 
Into  the  hands  of  God  who  gave 
And  in  his  mercy  trust. 

Charles  G.  Son  of  David  W.  & 
Harriet  Sherwood,  Died  Aug.  18, 
1848,  aged  5 years. 

Sylvina  Antoinette , only  daugh- 
ter of  David  W.  & Harriet  Sher- 
wood died  Jan.  6,  1847,  M.  10  years 
& 3 mo. 

Called  sudden  from  her  earthly  home 
To  heaven’s  immortal  bowers 
Through  all  eternity  to  bloom 
A sweet  and  fadeless  flower. 

Mr.  Daniel  Sherwood  died  June 
2.  1813  in  the  53  year  of  his  age. 

May  angels  with  their  guardian  wings 
This  dreary  tomb  o’er  spread 
And  guard  until  the  .close  of  time 
This  mansion  of  the  dead. 


In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Eunice  Sherwood , Wife  of 
Mr.  Daniel  Sherwood,  who  departed 
this  Life  Febry  5th  1790,  In  the  22d 
Year  of  her  Age. 

Daniel  B.  Sherwood  Died  Jan. 
16,  1878,  Aged  78y’rs  6 rao. 

Electa  M.  Sherwood  Died  Oct. 
12,.  1866,  Aged  61  y’rs  7 D’s. 

Eleanor , daughter  of  Amos  O.  & 
Betsey  Sherwood,  Died  June  18, 
1832,  aged  4 y’rs  5 mo’s  & 20  d. 

Harriet  J.  wife  of  Justus  Sher- 
wood Died  Feb.  4,  1864,  Aged  39. 

In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  Death. 

Lillie  M.  Daughter  of  J.  & M. 
Sherwood  Died  April  24,  1869,  2E.  5 
y’rs  & 7 mo. 

“Safe  within  the  fold.” 

Sacred  to  the  memory  ol^ 

John  Sherwood  Esq. 

Charity,  Philanthropy  & Urbanity  united  to 

make  him  beloved  by  his  family,  Esteemed  by 

his  friends  & Respected  by  his  acquaintances. 

He  died  June  30th  1810. 

Mrs.  Eunice  Sherwood  relict  of 
John  Sherwood  Esq.  died  Sept.  12, 
1814,  in  the  76  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

Mr.  John  Sherwood  who  depart- 
ed this  Life  May  10th  A.  D.  1795,  In 
the  25th  Year  of  his  Age. 

John  Sherwood  Died  at  Chicago 
Jan.  1,  1855,  M.  27. 

John  Sherwood  Died  April  6, 
1858,  2E.  66  y’rs  5 mo.  & 14  ds. 

Elosia , Wife  of  John  Sherwood, 
Died  Sept.  9,  1868  M.  72  Y’rs&  6 
mo’s. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 

John  Sherwood , only  child  of 
Sherwood  and  Caroline  Staples  who 
died  May  2,  1838,  aged  7 years  5 mo. 
& 24  d’s. 


86 


Elizabeth  S.,  Wife  of  J.  W.  Sher- 
wood Died  June  15,  1882,  Aged  30 
y’i's. 

Asleep  in  Jesus. 

Died  April  29,  1808 
Samuel  IV.  aged  9 months. 

June  13,  1811  an 
Infant  aged  3 days. 

Sept.  1,  1827 
Charles  j E.  aged  1 year. 

Sons  of  David  & Anna  Sherwood. 

Janies  Irving , son  of  David  W. 
& Laura  W.  Sherwood  died  Dec.  7, 
1816  Aged  10  mo.  & 3 d’s. 

In  memory  of 

Julia  Sherwood,  who  died  Sept. 
8,  1842,  JE.  30. 

Farewell  my  partner  child  and  friend 
Prepare  for  death  while  I sleep  here. 

In  memory  of 

Isaac  Sherwood  who  died  May  28, 
1838,  2E.  41  y’rs  10  mo’s  & 1 day. 

Abigail  Jordan , wife  of  Isaac 
Sherwood,  Died  Dec.  28, 1876,  Aged 
77  yrs. 

“Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.5' 

Eliza  A.,  wife  of  Justus  Sherwood 
Died  Oct.  13,  1890,  JE.  60  y’rs  10 
mo’s. 

Not  safe  till  saved  in  Heaven. 

In  memory  of 

Abigail  Slier  wood  wife  of  Mat- 
thew Sherwood  who  died  Sept.  28th, 
1786,  In  the  29th  Year  of  her  age. 

A.  H.  (At  the  left  hand  of  Abigail 
Sherwood) 

Ph  ilo  B.  Slie  r wood  Died  Sept. 

24,  1887,  M.  73  years,  & 5 mo’s. 
Eugene  W.  died  Oct.  13,  1851,  2E. 
2 y’s  & 8 mo. 


Also  an 

Infant  daughter  died  1846,  JE.  3 
ms. 

Children  of  Philo  B.  & Jerusha  Sher- 
wood. 

In  memory  of 

Phebe  A.  Slier  wood  who  died 
Oct.  22,  1844,  aged  25  y’rs. 

Modesty  and  meekness  adorned  her  in  life 
Faith  and  hope  supported  her  in  death. 

In  Memory  of 

Mr.  Thom  as  Slier  wood  who 
died  Sept.  15tli  1798,  in  the  70th 
year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Anne  t Slier  wood,  Wife  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Sherwood,  who  died 
Deer  3d  1777  in  the  52d  year  of  her 
age. 

Walker  Sherwood  died  Oct.  15, 
1826,  M.  26  years. 

Walker  Slier  wood*  Died  Oct.  21, 
i863,  M.  81  y’rs  2 mo’s  & 6 D’s. 

Father,  we  miss  him. 

Anna  Sherwood , wife  of  Walker 
Sherwood  Died  April  18,  1862,  JE. 
82  yrs  4 mo.  & 11  days. 

Our  mother,  we  loved  her. 

Betsey  Sillinian  Died  Sept.  20, 
1858,’iE.  73. 

Here  lies  a friend  of  Jesus. 

Cyr  us  Sillinian  Died  May  6.  1864, 
M.  51  yrs  1 mo.  & 19  D’s. 

Charles  C.9  Son  of  Cyrus  & Anna 
H.  Silliman,  Died  March  21,  1871, 
JE.  16  Yrs  8 mos. 

Meet  me  in  Heaven. 

In  memory  of 

Mr.  Cyrus  Sillinian  who  died 
Aug  12,  1842,  M.  72. 

Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord 
is  the  death  of  his  saints. 


* One  of  Natdre’s  noblemen.  His  wife  was  a Summers.  (R.  B.  L.) 


87 


In  memory  of 

Mr.  David  Silliman  who  died 
August  29th  1810,  In  the  73d  year 
of  his  Age. 

Mr's, Lydia  Silliman  widow  of 
David  Silliman  died  Dec.  28,  1816, 
aged  75. 

In  memory  of 

Miss  Anna  Silliman , daughter 
of  David  & Lydia  Silliman,  who 
died  June  8,  1820,  aged  32  years. 

Once  you  must  die  and  once  for  all 
The  solemn  purpose  weigh 
For  know  that  heaven  or  hell  attend 
On  that  important  day. 

David  Silliman  Died  April  23, 
1853,  Aged  88  years  & 6 months. 

Clarissa , Wife  of  David  Silliman 
died  May  19,  1855,  Aged  81  years. 

Charles  E.,  only  son  of  David  & 
Mary  B.  Silliman  Died  Oct.  5,  1852, 
Aged  13  years  & 10  mo’s. 

In  memory  of 

Daniel  Silliman , who  died  Sept. 
13th  1818,  jE.  66  years  2 months  & 
16  ds. 

Emily  Silliman  wife  of  Ezra  Sil- 
liman died  July  11,  1838,  aged  31 
y’rs  & 10  mo. 

John  Silliman , son  of  Mr.  Cyrus 
& Mrs.  Hannah  Silliman  died  Feb. 
8,  1815,  in  the  16  year  of  his  age. 

Joseph  Silliman  died  June  18, 
1849,  2E.  59  y’rs. 

Deacon  Justus  Silliman  De- 
parted this  life  April  30th  1839,  JE. 
71  years  & 10  months, 

In  memory  of 

Ruth  Silliman , wife  of  Justus 
Silliman  who  died  March  20,  1836, 
aged  70  years  & 6 moptjis. 


In  memory  of 

Isaac  Silliman , who  died  July  8, 
1840,  2E.  48  yrs  & 4 ms. 

In  memory  of 

Mary , wife  of  Isaac  Silliman,  who 
died  Nov.  21,  1825,  aged  34  y’rs  & 6 
months. 

Lottie  It,  Daughter  of  Nathaniel  L. 
& Eliza  B.  Silliman,  Born  Jan.  17, 

1859,  Died  March  10,  1862,  JE.  3 
y’rs  1 mo.  & 21  D’s. 

Nathaniel  Silliman  died  Nov.  6, 
1825,  Mt.  33. 

Nathaniel  L.  Silliman  Died 
May  30,  1868,  Aged  43. 

Carlton  E.  Smith  Died  Dec.  11, 
1871,  jE.  17  y’rs  9 D’s. 

Carlton  dear  one  ! thou  art  at  rest 
God  called  him  home  He  knew  twas  best 
We  mourn  thee,  yet  we  know  that  soon 
We  too  may  share  thy  heavenly  home. 

Janies  A.  Son  of  J.  B.  & C.  Smith 
Died  Dec.  12,  1868,  JE.  1 y’r  4 mo. 

Our  Jamie. 

Tread  softly  for  an  angel  band. 

Doth  guard  the  precious  dust, 

And  we  can  safely  leave  our  boy 
Our  darling  in  his  trust. 

Quam  Smith  died  March  30th 

1860,  JE.  84. 

Ransom  O,  Smith  Died  May  31, 
1871,  aged  54  y’rs  & 9 mo’s. 

One  less  to  love  on  earth 
One  more  to  meet  in  heaven. 

Lucinda , Wife  of  Ransom  O. 
Smith  Died  July  27,  1883,  aged  71 
years. 

Sylvester  R,  Smith  Died  June  16, 
1886,  M.  49  y’rs  1 mo.  & 11  days. 

William  W,  Smith , Died  March 
17,  1857  M.  43  yrs  & 1 mo. 

Earth  has  his  dust 
Friends  his  memory 
And  the  Redeemer  his  spirit. 


88 


Wm . Wilmot , Son  of  Wm.  W.  & 
Susan  A.  Smith,  Died  July  22,  1865, 
aged  14  y’rs. 

Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found. 

We  lived  together. 

John  A.  Son  of  Wm.  W.  & Susan  A. 
Smith,  died  Sept.  6,  1851,  M.  12 

y’s- 

We  parted  but  to  meet  again. 

William  W.  son  of  Wm.  W.  & Sus- 
an A.  Smith  died  Sept.  8,  1851,  2E. 
10  y’s. 

In  Memory  of 

Sherwood  Staples  who  died  Oct. 
15,  1839,  aged  38  years  & 8 mo’s. 

In  Memory  of 

Caroline , Wife  of  Sherwood  Sta- 
ples who  died  Oct.  12,  1888,  aged  84 
years  & 4 d’s. 

Staples,  Jennings,  [monument]. 
Mary  It.  Chappell , Wife  of  Sid- 
ney Staples,  Died  May  6,  1848,  2E. 
32  years. 

In  memory  of 

Mr.  Zachariah  Summers,  who 
departed  this  Life  May  28th  1787, 
In  the  53d  year  of  his  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Martha  Summers,  wife  of 
Mr.  Zachariah  Summers,  who  died 
April  12,  1820,  in  her  87  year. 
Schuyler , AT.,  Son  of  Samuel  A.  & 
Eliza  A.  Sweet,  Died  Nov.  6,  1875, 
Aged  17  y’rs. 

We  part  to  meet  again; 

Meet  me  in  heaven. 

Sweet  rest  in  heaven. 

Bar  ah  Taylor,  died  Sept.  27, 
1838,  aged  75  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Abigail,  wife  of  Barach  Taylor,  who 
died  April  23,  1829,  aged  61  years. 


In  Memory  of 

Mr.  David  Taylor, who  died  May 
5,  1805,  In  the  89th  year  of  his 
Age. 

David  Taylor,  Died  July  26,  1848, 

m.  60. 

Mary  AT.  Wife  of  David  Taylor 
Died  Jan.  24,  1856,  M.  63. 

In  Memory  of 

Elihu  Taylor,  who  died  Nov.  4, 
1845,  JE.  55. 

Anyeline,  wife  of  Elihu  Taylor  died 
Jan.  28,  1874,  JE.  81  y’rs  9 mo. 

“Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous 
and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his.” 

Samuel  E.  Thorp,  Died  March 
10,  1875,  JE.  53  years  3 mo’s  & 16 
days. 

Mary  B.,  wife  of  Samuel  E.  Thorp 
Died  April  22,  1885,  JE.  65  years  7 
mo’s. 

Isaac  W.,  Son  of  Samuel  E.  & Mary 
B. Thorp,  Died  April  21, 1875,  JE.  17 
years  & 8 mo’s. 

Lelius  [Monument]. 

Eloyd  Tucher,  Died  October  12. 
1888,  aged  83  y’rs. 

His  Wife 

Anna  Tucker,  Died  Feb.  24,  1891, 
aged  78  y’rs. 

Charles  J.  Baker,  son  of  Jesse  & 
Anna  Baker  Died  April  1,  1887, 
aged  56  y’rs. 

Dea.  Albert  Turney,  Died  April 
14,  1871,  Aged  79  y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Hannah  Turney  Wife  of  Dea. 
Albert  Turney,  who  died  Dec.  17th, 
1839,  aged  46. 

Eucretia,  Wife  of  Dea.  Albert  Tur- 
ney Died  Sept.  1,  1868,  Aged  82. 

Albert  T.  Turney  Died  June  15, 
1886,  aged  70  years. 


89 


In  Memory  of 

Clarissa  Turney , who  died  April 
14,  1844,  JE.  78  y’rs. 

Cyrus  Turney  Died  Nov.  14.  1886, 
aged  69  years. 

Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart 
for  they  shall  see  God. 

In  Memory  of 

David  Turney , who  died  July  25, 
1829,  aged  64  years  6 months. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs . Partliena , wife  of  Mr.  David 
Turney,  who  died  Sept.  30,  1815,  in 
the  47  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

Sally  Turney , daughter  of  David 
& Partliena  Turney,  who  died  Nov. 
25,  1834,  aged  24  years  6 mo.  & 23 
d’s. 

In  memory  of 

Thomas  J.  Turney , Son  of  M . 
David  & Mrs.  Partliena  Turney, 
who  died  Nov.  1st,  1805,  in  the  19th 
year  of  His  Age. 

Willis , Son  of  Mr.  David  and  Mrs. 
Parthena  Turney,  horn  May  31st  <fc 
died  July  30th  1804,  aged  2 months. 

Henry  31.,  Son  of  A.  T.  & E.  M. 
Turney,  Died  Oct.  29,  1877,  aged  34 
Y ears. 

We  miss  thee. 

Edith , daughter  of  A.  E.  & M.  E. 
Turney  died  April  21,  1863,  IE.  4 
mos  & 3 dys. 

John  Turney  Died  Nov.  24,  1849, 
M.  81. 

In  memory  of 

Eunice  Turney,  wife  of  John  Tur- 
ney, who  died  Oct.  4,  1831,  aged  58 
years. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the 
Lord  from  henceforth:  Yea  saith  the 
Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
Labors;  and  their  works  do  follow  them. 


In  memory  of 

Anna  Turney,  daughter  of  John 
& Eunice  Turney,  who  died  Dec.  17, 
1833,  aged  26  years. 

Stephen,  Son  of  John  & Eunice 
Turney  died  Oct.  3,  1815,  JE.  2 y’rs. 
9 mo. 

Zalmon  Turney  Died  Dec.  31, 
1880,  JE.  80  y’rs  8 mo. 

In  memory  of 

Mary  31.,  wife  of  Zalmon  Turney, 
who  died  Nov.  15,  1835,  aged  26 
years  & 8 mo. 

David  D.  Son  of  Zalmon  & Mary 
M.  Turney  died  July  4,  1832,  Aged 
4 mo.  & 13  ds. 

In  memory  of 

Sarah,  wife  of  Squire  Turrel,  who 
died  Feb.  24,  1809,  in  the  24  year  of 
her  age. 

Larina,  wife  of  James  J.  Ward 
Died  Nov.  15,  1880,  2E.  28  y’rs  2 mo’s 
& 9 days. 

Mary,  wife  of  James  J.  Ward,  Died 
Mar.  27,  1883,  M.  21  years. 

Rev.  John  Warren  Died  July  26, 
1889,  aged  74  y’rs  9 mo’s. 

In  memory  of 

Joh  n Wells,  who  died  May  26,1848, 
M.  75  y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Hannah,  widow  of  John  Wells,  who 
died  June  4,  1855,  IE.  79  y’rs. 


90 


My  Husband 

Andrew  S.  Wheeler  Died  Oct. 
26,  1870,  Aged  23  years. 

They  call  thee  dead  my  husband,  for  the  grave 
Now  holds  thy  body  in  its  cold  embrace 
They  call  thee  dead  because  the  coffin  lid 
Shuts  out  the  sight  forever  from  thy  face. 

I saw  thee  wasting  on  thy  couch  of  pain 
Stood  by  thy  bedside  when  thy  spirit  fled 
Know  what  thou  wast,  canst  not  be  again 
And  yet!  and  yet  to  me  thou  art  not  dead. 

In  Memory  of 

Daniel  Wheeler , who  died  Feb. 
11,  1844,  aged  76  years. 

Farewell  my  partner  and  children  dear 
Prepare  for  death  while  I sleep  here. 

In  Memory  of 

Ant-ha , wife  of  Daniel  Wheeler, Died 
Dec.  29,  1880,  aged  96  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Sarah , wife  of  Daniel  Wheeler,  who 
died  April  27,  1817,  JE.  51  yrs. 
Pollina  their  daughter  died  Feb. 
1806,  M.  10  mo’s. 

In  Memory  of 

Ezra,  Son  of  Daniel  & Antha  Wheel- 
er, who  died  Sept.  18,  1826,  aged  4 
y’rs  & 6 mo’s. 

Ehebe  M,,  Wife  of  Daniel  Wheeler 
died  May  7,  1876,  M.  66  y’rs  7 mo. 
Asleep  in  Jesus. 

Mary  Augusta , daughter  of  Dan- 
iel and  Pliebe  M.  Wheeler  died  Oct. 

9,  1847,  M.  4 y’rs  6 mo  & 12  ds. 
Sarah  Jane,  died  Nov.  27,  1841, 
aged  3 years. 

Nelson  died  March  24,  1842,  aged  8 
mo. 

Also  an  Infant, 

Children  of  Daniel  & Phebe  M. 
Wheeler. 

ETlwin  Wheeler  Born  Dec.  3, 
1812,  Died  Nov.  29,  1870. 


Lucinda  Wheeler,  wife  of  Edwin 
Wheeler,  Died  Jan.  17,  1875,  M.  57 
y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Eli  ff  heeler,  who  died  Aug.  5, 
1845,  aged  50  y’rs. 

In  Memory  of 

Hannah,  wife  of  Eli  Wheeler,  who 
died  April  9,  1836,  aged  44  years. 

Eleanor,  Daughter  of  Eli  & Han- 
nah Wheeler  died  Nov.  22,  1863, 
aged  43  y’rs  2 mos  & 25  d’s. 

In  memory  of 

Wakeman,  Son  of  Eli  & Hannah 
W heeler,  who  died  May  27,  1814,  M. 

1 year  10  months. 

Eunice  F.  Wife  of  Henry  K.  Wheel- 
er Died  Nov.  28,  1876,  M.  45  y’rs  3 
mo. 

Emmagene,  daughter  of  Joseph  & 
Emily  Wheeler  died  Jan.  30,  1852, 
aged  2 y’rs&  24  days. 

George  Wheeler  Died  Dec.  13 
1856,  M.  32. 

In  memory  of 

Susan  Wheeler,  Wife  of  George 
Wheeler,  who  Died  May  8,  1850, 
Aged  43  years. 

Henry  Wheeler  Died  April  10, 

1876,  Aged  41  y’rs  6 mo. 

Afflictions  sore  long  time  he  bore. 
Physicians’  aid  was  vain 

Till  God  was  pleased  to  call  him  home 
And  free  him  from  all  pain. 

Hiram  Wheeler  Born  Dec.  9,1802, 
Died  Aug.  21,  1882. 

Anna,  Wife  of  Hiram  Wheeler 
Born,  Feb.  19,  1809,  Died  April  16 

1877. 

John  Wheeler  died  Jan.  10,  1820 
2E.  65. 


91 


In  Mettioty  of 

Mrs . Abiah  Wheeler , widow  of 
John  Wheeler  deed,  who  died  July 
4,  1828,  aged  89. 

John  Wheeler  died  Feb.  3,  1819, 
in  his  90th  year. 

Sarah,  Wife  of  Jesse  Wheeler  Died 
Feb.  12,  1846,  M.  64y’rs. 

Infant , daughter  of  John  A.  & Ruth 
A.  Wilson  died  Sept.  13,  1851. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 

Mrs . Ann  Wheeler  Wife  of  Mr. 
John  Wheeler,  who  departed  this 
Life  March  ye  17th,  1767,  in  ye  38tli 
year  of  Her  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Obadiah  Wheeler  who  died  May 
28,  1848,  M.  82. 

In  memory  of 

Sarah  , wife  of  Obadiah  Wheeler,  who 
died  Oct,  25,  1855,  M.  90  y’rs  6 
mo. 

In  memory  of 

Hath,  wife  of  Jabez  Wheeler,  who 
died  Sept.  30,  1827,  in  her  45  year. 

In  Memory  of 

Samuel  Wheeler,  who  died  July 
19,  1833,  in  the  81st  year  of  his 
age. 

In  memory  of 

Esther,  Wife  of  Samuel  Wheeler 
who  died  Jan.  5,  1860,  M.  99  y’rs  8 
mo’s  & 20  d’s. 

Sarah,  Wife  of  Samuel  Wheeler 
died  January  20th,  1795,  2E,  44  y’rs. 

In  memory  of 

Stephen  Wheeler,  who  died  May 
22,  1837,  aged  67. 

In  Memory  of 

Eleanor,  wife  of  Stephen  Wheeler, 
who  died  Aug.  21,  1846,  aged  72. 


In  Memory  of 

Jerusha  F .,  wife  of  Charles  Wheel- 
er, daughter  of  Burr  and  Sarah 
Bradley,  who  died  April  9th,  1837, 
aged  25  years  lfino’s  and  3 d’s. 

Barr  Wakeman  Wheeler,  Son 
of  Charles  & Jerusha  Wheeler,  died 
Dec.  9,  1838,  aged  4 y’rs  9 mo’s&  15 
days. 

In  memory  of 

Andrew  J,,  Son  of  Charles  & Jer- 
usha Wheeler,  who  died  June  7, 
1848,  aged  20  years. 

He  was  at  the  time  of  his  death  a member  of 

the  Junor  Class  in  Yale  College. 

In  memory  of 

Mable,  daughter  of  Stephen  & Elean- 
or Wheeler,  who  died  Dec.  5,  1850, 
aged  51. 

In  Memory  of 

Nancy,  daughter  of  Stephen  & 
Eleanor  Wheeler,  who  died  June  23, 
1851,  aged  50. 

In  memory  of 

Eerthena,  Wife  of  Stephen  Wheel- 
er, who  died  May  24,  1841,  aged 
72. 

William  Wheeler  Died  March  8, 
1878,  aged  65  y’rs  2 mos. 

Silas  Wheeler  Died  Oct.  10,  1864, 
M.  83. 

In  memory  of 

Deborah  Wheeler, who  ended  this 
mortal  life  July  5,  1846,  M.  65. 

So  one  generation  passes  away. 

Another  soon  follows. 

Isaac  Whitehead  Died  April  21, 
1858,  Aged  70  y’rs. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 

Anna,  Wife  of  Isaac  Whitehead 
Died  Jan.  14, 1864,  iE.  79  y’rs  &6  mo. 

Sylvia  A,,  Only  child  of  Isaac  & 
Anna  Whitehead  & wife  of  Benja- 
man  T.  Beers  Died  Dec.  3,  1856,  M. 
33. 


92 


In  memory  of 

Hannah  Wildman , Formerly 
wife  of  Lewis  Edwards,  who  died 
Oct.  29,  1862,  M.  86  y’rs  4 mo  & 
20  D’s. 

Eleanor  Elizabeth , Wife  of 
George  F.  Wildman  died  Aug.  9, 
1854,  Aged  22  years. 
flames  I,  Wilson  Died  Nov.  2, 
1879,  aged  54  y’rs. 

Asleep  in  Jesus. 

Lucinda  A,  widow  of  William  Wil- 
son died  Oct.  19,  1856,  M.  86  y’rs. 

At  Best. 

Joseph  It,  Wilson  Died  Dec.  11, 
1886,  aged  60  years. 

In  memory  of 

David  D.  Winton , who  died  Jan. 

19,  1849,  aged  21  y’rs. 

Dea  Ebenezer  S,  Winton  Died 
Nov.  10,  1867,  ae.  54  y’rs  & 1 mo. 

For  me  to  live  is  Christ  & to  die  is  gain. 

David  E.f  Son  of  Ebenezer  S.  & 
H.  M.  Winton,  Died  Sept.  25,  1849, 
aged  8|  mo’s. 

Happy  fnfant  early  blessed 
Rest  in  peaceful  slumbers  rest. 


Col,  James  Winton  Died  Mar. 
21,  1857,  aged  78  y’rs  & 11  mo’s. 

In  memory  of 

Jarvis  Win  ton,  who  died  Mar.  15, 
1850,  in  the  29th  year  or  his  age. 

In  memory  of 

Perthenia  Winton , who  died 
April  13,  1850,  aged  65  years  8 mo 
& 20  d’s. 

Iu  memory  of 

liuama,  wife  of  Eli  Winton  who 
died  Jan.  23,  1852,  ^Et.  40  years  & 
2 mo. 

Harriet  Neivell , wife  of  Eli  Win- 
ton, Died  Oct.  13,  1855,  JE.  26. 

Also 

George  H,  their  son  Died  Feb.  22, 
1856,  M.  6 mo  & 17  days. 

Forgive  blest  Shade  the  tributary  tear 

Which  mourns  thy  exit  from  a world  like  this 

Forgive  the  wish  that  would  have  kept  thee 

[here 

And  stayed  thy  progress  to  the  realms  of  bliss. 


CORRECTIONS. 


Page  64,  omitted 

Aaron  Beers,  Died  Aug.  16;  1886, 
Aged  83  y’rs  10  mos. 

Huldah,  His  Wife,  Died  Feb.  1, 
1853,  Aged  61  y’rs. 

Page  66,  Eunice  Bennett  for  Annice 
Bennett. 

Page  67,  Wife  of  William  H.  Burr,  for 
wife  of  William  Burr. 

Page  67,  Jerusha  F.  wife  of  Charles 
Wheeler,  misplaced  and  repeated  on 
page  91. 

Page  68,  Clara  only  daughter  of  J.  & 
C.  A.  Candee,  for  Clara,  daughter 
of  &c. 

Page  69,  Polly  Edwards  age,  36  yrs. 
for  35  yrs.  5 mos. 

Page  70,  Emma  J.  Fisher,  Died  1868, 
for  1878. 


Page  69,  omitted 

David  S.  Edwards,  Died  in  New 
Orleans  July  19,  1863,  Aged  34  y’rs. 

Smile  softly  skies  down  upon  our  loved  one’s 
grave, 

Bloom  brightly  flowers  ! Angels  ! keep  holy 
watch, 

Cherished  ones  oft  wander  here,  for  he  who 
Laid  himself  a sacrifice  upon  our 
Country’s  altar  is  numbered  ever  with 
Its  brave  defenders, 

A priceless  offering 

Here  rests  in  glorious  hope  the  mortal ; 

The  immortal  far  from  toil  and  strife. 

Through  grace  divine  rests  with  the 
Prince  of  peace. 

Tis  well  our  yearning  hearts  do  say  to  Him 
"Whose  will  not  ours  be  done.  Forever  free 
From  pain  and  sorrow,  and  each  day  each 
hour 

Brings  us  nearer  to  his  eternal  home. 


95 


THE  PATENT  OR  CHARTER 

of  the  Town  of  Stratford.* 

1686. 


Whereas  the  General  Court  of  Connecticutt  have  formerly 
Granted  unto  ye  proprietors  Inhabitants  of  Stratford  all 
those  lands  both  meadows  and  upland  within  these  abut- 
ments viz  upon  ye  sea  on  ye  South  on  Stratford  River  on  ye 
east  & on  Fairfield  bounds  on  ye  west  and  to  run  from  ye 
sea  on  ye  south  ye  whole  breadth  full  twelve  Miles  and  from 
ye  norwest  corner  to  run  easterly  to  ye  middle  of  Stratford 
River  & abuts  on  ye  wilderness  on  ye  north  the  said  land 
having  been  by  purcliass  or  otherwise  lawfully  obtained  of 
the  Indian  native  proprietors  & whereas  ye  proprietors  the 
aforesaid  Inhabitants  of  Stratford  have  made  application  to 
ye  Governor  & Company  of  said  Colony  of  Conecticut  assem- 
bled in  Court  May  25,  1685,  that  they  may  have  a patent  for 
Confirmation  of  ye  aforesaid  lands  so  purchased  & granted 
to  them  as  aforesaid  and  which  they  have  stood  seized  and 
quietly  possessed  of  for  many  years  late  past  without  inter- 
ruption now  for  a more  full  confirmation  of  ye  abovesaid 
tract  of  land  as  it  is  abutted  & Bounded  aforesaid  unto  ye 
present  proprietors  of  ye  township  of  Stratford  in  there  pos- 
session & enjoyment  of  the  premises  Know  yee  yt.  ye  said 
Governor  & Company  assembled  in  General  Court  according 
to  ye  Commission  & by  vertue  of  ye  Power  granted  to  them 
by  our  late  soverraign  Lord  Charles  2d  of  blessed  memory 
In  his  letters  pattents  bearing  date  the  three  and  twentyetli 
year  of  said  Majesties  Raigne  have  given  & granted  & by 
these  present  doe  give  grant  ratifye  & Confirm  unto  Capt. 
Wm.  Curtiss  Mr  Joseph  Hawley  Mr  Isaac  Nicholls  Mr  Jere. 
Judson  Leut.  John  Beardslee  Ensigne  Stephen  Burritt  Sergt. 

* It  was  unfortunate  that  this  charter  was  not  printed  in  the  History  of  Stratford, 
and  partly  to  supply  that  defect  it  is  inserted  in  this  annual.  In  copying  the  record 
we  have  followed  the  original,  without  punctuation. 


96 


John  Curtiss  Mr  Richard  Blackleach  Mr  Timothy  Wilcoxson 
Mr.  John  Wells  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman  & Mr  Ephraim  Stiles 
and  all  the  rest  of  ye  said  present  proprietors  of  ye  Town- 
ship of  Stratford  and  theire  Heires  and  assignes  for  ever  and 
to  each  of  them  in  such  proportion  as  they  have  alredy 
agreed  upon  for  the  division  of  the  same  all  yt  aforesaid 
tract  and  percells  of  lands  as  it  is  butted  and  bounded  to- 
gether with  all  ye  woods  uplands  arrable  lands  meadows  pas- 
tures ponds  havens  portes  waters  rivers  with  all  adjoining 
Islands  therein  fishings  huntings  fowlings  mines  minerals 
quarries  & precious  stones  upon  or  within  ye  said  tract  of 
lands  with  all  other  proflits  & comodities  there  unto'be- 
longing  or  in  any  waise  appertaining : and  doe  alsoe  grant 
unto  the  aforenamed  Capt.  Wm  Curtiss  Mr  Joseph  Hawley 
Mr  Isaac  Nicholls  Mr  Jeremy  Judson  Leut  John  Beardsly 
Ensign  Stephen  Burritt  Sergt  John  Curtiss  Mr  Richard 
Blackleach  Mr  Timothy  Wilcoxson  Mr  John  Wells  Mr  Sam- 
uel Sherman  & Mr  Ephraim  Stiles  and  all  the  rest  of  ye 
present  proprietors  Inhabitants  of  Stratford  aforesaid  there 
heires  & assignes  for  ever  yt  the  afqresaidtracts  of  land  shall 
be  for  ever  hereafter  deemed  reputed  & bee  an  Intire 
Township  of  itself  to  have  & to  hold  the  said  tracts  of  land 
& premises  with  all  & every  those  appertenances  together 
with  the  priveleges  Immunities  & franchises  herein  given  & 
granted  unto  ye  said  Capt.  Wm  Curtiss  Mr  Joseph  Hawley 
Mr  Isaac  Nicholls  Mr  Jeremiah  Judson  Leut  John  Beardslee 
Ensign  Stephen  Burrit  Sergt.  John  Curtiss  Mr  Richard  Black- 
leach Mr  Timothy  Wilcoxson  Mr  John  Wells  Mr  Samuel 
Sherman  Mr  Ephraim  Stiles  & all  other  ye  present  proprie- 
tors Inhabitants  of  Stratford  there  heires  and  assignes  for 
ever  & to  ye  onely  proper  use  and  behoofe  of  ye  said  Capt. 
Wm  Curtiss  Mr  Joseph  Hawley  Mr  Isaac  Nicholls  Mr  Jer- 
emy Judson  Leiut.  John  Beardslee  ensign  Stephen  Burrit 
Sergt.  John  Curtiss  Mr  Richard  Blackleach  Mr  Timothy 
Wilcoxson  Mr  John  Wells  Mr  Samuel  Sherman  & Mr 
Ephaim  Stiles  and  all  other  the  present  proprietors  Inhabi- 
tants of  Stratford  their  heires  successors  & anssignes  for  ever 
according  to  ye  tenor  of  his  Majests  Manor  of  east  green- 


97 


wich  in  ye  County  of  kent  in  ye  kingdom  of  england  in  free 
& comon  soceage  & not  in  Capitee  nor  by  knight  service 
they  yeilding  and  paying  therefor  to  our  sovreigne  Lord  ye 
king  his  heires  & successions  onely  the  fifth  part  of  all  ye 
oare  of  gold  & silver  which  from  time  to  time  & all  times 
hereafter  shall  be  there  gotten  had  or  obtained  in  lieu  of  all 
rents  services  duties  & demands  whatsoever  according  to 
charter  In  witness  whereof  we  have  caused  the  seal  of  the 
Colony  to  be  hereunto  affixed  this  fowerteenth  of  May  one 
thousand  six  hundread  eighty  & six  in  ye  second  year  of  ye 
Raign  of  our  Soveraign  Lord  James  the  second  by  the  Grace 
of  God  of  England  Scotland  France  and  Ireland  king  de- 
fender of  ye  faith  &c 

Postcript  note.  Also  yt  ye  Islands  in  said  river  belonging 
to  Stratford  are  called  by  ye  names  of  Mr  Knells  Brins- 
meades  the  lower  & upper  Islands  & Harvies  Island  in  all 
five  with  all  the  wanted  privileges  of  the  river  to  have  & to 
hold  to  ye  said  town  of  Stratford  to  them  & their  heirs  for 
ever. 

Robert  Treat  Governor. 

Pr  Order  of  ye  General  Court  of  Con- 
necticut signed  pr  John  Allyn  Secre- 
tary March  30th  1687  pr  order  of  ye 
Governor  & Company  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticutt 

Entered  in  the  pub : records  lib.  P. 

fo.  158:159  May  19,  1686. 

Pr  John  Allyn  Secretyr 

Exactly  Recorded  from  ye 
Originall  Assignmts  & dilli- 
gently  Compared  there  with 
this  22d  Decembr  1688 

Pr  Joseph  Curtiss  Recorder 
[of  the  town  of  Stratford] 

Yol.  2 p.  489. 


\ 


98 


BARNIJM  INSTITUTE 

of  Science  and  History. 
EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  WILL  AND  CODICILS 

OF 

HON.  PHINEAS  T.  BARNUM,  DECEASED, 

In  Relation  thereto,  from  the  Records  of  the  Court  of  Probate, 
District  of  Bridgeport,  Vol.  51,  pages  676,  690,  697. 


FIRST  CODICIL,  ART.  9,  PAGE  676. 

If  my  estate  (exclusive  of  the  show  business  and  all  prop- 
erty pertaining  thereto)  shall  amount  after  appraisal  to  one 
and  a half  million  dollars  over  my  debts,  then  I give  to  the 
Fairfield  County  Historical  Society  and  to  the  Bridgeport 
Scientific  Society,  corporations  organized  and  existing  under 
the  laws  of  the  state  of  Connecticut,  and  located  in  said  city 
of  Bridgeport,  $50,000,  to  be  expended  by  said  societies  in 
erecting  a building  on  a lot  of  land  situate  in  said  Bridge- 
port on  the  southeast  corner  of  Gilbert  and  Main  streets,  and 
recently  conveyed  by  me  to  said  societies  for  the  purposes 
hereinafter  provided  for.  Said  building  is  to  be  duly  marked 
and  forever  known  as  Barnum  Institute  and  used  for 
promoting  and  carrying  out  the  purposes  respectively  of 
said  societies,  and  it  shall  be  constructed  so  as  to  furnish 
suitable  rooms  for  each  of  said  societies  with  one  large  room 
or  hall  for  meetings  and  lectures  which  may  be  used  in  com- 
mon and  by  each  society  separately  on  such  nights  as  they 
shall  mutually  agree  upon.  Each  society  shall  have  exclu- 
sive control  of  its  own  rooms. 

Said  building  may  in  the  discretion  of  the  Trustees  of  said 
societies  be  so  constructed  as  to  allow  stores  on  the  first 
floor,  and  such  stores  and  other  rooms  in  said  building  as 
may  not  be  required  for  the  use  of  either  of  said  societies, 


99 


may  be  rented  for  their  equal  benefit,  except  one  room  con- 
veniently situated  which  shall  be  set  apart  for  the  sole  use  of 
the  Bridgeport  Medical  Association  for  its  meetings,  its  col- 
lection of  pathological  specimens,  and  all  other  necessary  and 
useful  purposes  of  said  association.  Said  room  shall  be  in 
size  equal  to  14x18  feet,  and  said  Medical  Association  shall 
always  have  control  of  the  same,  and  convenient  access  and 
right  of  passage  to  and  from  the  same,  and  such  a room 
shall  be  provided  not  only  in  said  building  but  also  in  any 
building  that  may  be  erected  in  place  thereof  thereafter. 
In  the  division  of  rooms  between  the  two  first  named  socie- 
ties and  the  management  of  the  rest  of  the  building,  and  the 
division  of  the  receipts  and  expenses,  each  of  said  societies 
shall  have  equal  interest,  power  accommodation  and  obliga- 
tion, and  if  they  cannot  agree  as  to  the  same, or  in  any  paticru- 
lar  thereof  then  I hereby  empower  the  Judge  for  the  time 
being  of  the  Probate  Court  of  the  district  of  Bridgeport,  on  the 
application  in  writing  of  either  party  with  due  notice  to  the 
other,  to  hear  and  determine  the  same,  and  all  questions  and 
controversies  relating  thereto,  and  the  decision  of  said  Judge 
on  the  premises  shall  be  final,  until  for  good  cause  shown 
the  Judge  of  said  Court  shall  make  further  order  in  the  mat- 
ter. Should  I erect  a building  for  said  purposes  in  my  life- 
time, then  in  lieu  of  the  above  legacy,  I give  said  building 
and  premises  to  said  societies,  (Historical  and  Scientific)  to 
be  theirs  forever  as  equal  tenants  in  common,  and  should  I 
begin  and  not  complete  said  building  before  my  death,  then 
the  amount  if  any  expended  by  me  on  said  building  shall  be 
deducted  from  the  legacy  above  given,  and  I direct  my  ex- 
ecutors immediately  after  my  death  to  pay  the  balance  of 
such  legacy  to  said  societies  who  shall  forthwith  use  the 
same  to  complete  such  building.  This  gift  is  made  on  the 
express  conditions  that  the  said  building  and  premises  shall 
at  all  times  be  kept  in  good  condition  and  repair,  that  all  as- 
sessments, taxes,  and  charges  of  every  nature  on  the  same 
shall  be  promptly  paid  by  the  grantees,  the  said  Historical 
and  Scientific  societies,  and  their  successors  forever,  which 
shall  apply  all  rents  and  incomes  from  the  building  and 


100 


premises  first  for  the  above  purposes.  The  same  conditions 
shall  apply  to  any  new  building  erected  by  them,  or  any 
other  buildings  taken  by  purchase  or  exchange  by  them,  and 
they  shall  be  binding  on  said  Historical  and  Scientific  socie- 
ties and  their  successors  forever. 

FOURTH  CODICIL,  ART.  2,  PAGE  690. 
t I give  to  the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society  and  the 
Bridgeport  Scientific  Society,  both  of  them  being  established 
and  located  in  said  Bridgeport,  $10,000,  for  the  use  and  ben- 
efit of  said  societies,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  my 
said  will  and  codicils.  This  gift  is  in  addition  to  my  jirevious 
gifts  to  said  societies  and  is  made  for  the  same  purpose  and 
on  the  same  terms  and  conditions  as  those  heretofore  ex- 
pressed in  my  said  codicils. 

ARTICLE  3. 

The  special  reason  for  making  the  above  additional  be- 
quest and  gift  is,  that  the  cost  of  erecting  and  constructing 
the  new  building  contemplated,  will  be  much  larger  than  it 
would  have  been  at  the  time  of  making  my  original  gift,  and 
my  e??ecutors  are  directed  and  authorized  to  carry  out  my 
intentions  accordingly. 

EIGHTH  CODICIL,  ART.  1,  PAGE  697. 

Whereas  I have  recently  accepted  plans  and  made  con- 
tracts for  the  erection  of  such  a building  on  said  lot  in  which 
building  a large  room  is  set  apart  for  the  said  Bridgeport 
Medical  Society,  and  said  building  is  to  be  known  as  “ The 
Barnum  Institute  of  Science  and  History.”  Therefore  it  is 
my  will  that  the  said  building  when  completed  shall  be  in 
lieu  of  any  and  all  other  testamentary  provisions  by  me 
made  heretofore  for  the  erection  of  said  building,  and  if  the 
same  as  now  contracted  for  shall  not  be  finished  and  paid 
for  by  me  during  my  lifetime,  then  I direct  and  authorize 
my  executors  to  finish  and  pay  for  the  same  out  of  my  es- 
tate, and  I hereby  empower  them  to  do  all  things  necessary 
and  proper  to  b.e  done  in  the  premises. 

Date  of  last  codicil,  March  30,  1891. 


101 


FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


ORIGINAL  ARTICLES  OF  ASSOCIATION. 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  to  wit : Row- 
land B.  Lacey,  William  H.  Noble,  William  B.  Hincks,  Na- 
thaniel E.  Wordin,  George  C.  Waldo  and  Louis  N.  Middle- 
brook,  all  of  Bridgeport,  Fairfield  County,  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, do  hereby  form  a Voluntary  Association,  under  . the  laws 
of  said  State,  for  the  promotion  and  encouragement  of  His- 
torical, Antiquarian  and  Genealogical  Investigation  relating 
to  said  County  and  the  towns  composing  it ; the  same  to 
consist  of  the  undersigned  as  present  members  thereof,  to- 
gether with  such  others  as  may  be  chosen  by  a unanimous 
vote  of  such  meetings  of  said  Association  as  may  be  hereafter 
held  for  that  purpose  ; we  the  subscribers  and  our  asso- 
ciates and  successors,  forever  to  be  known  as  The  Fairfield 
County  Historical  Society,  and  to  be  governed  by  such 
officers,  rules  and  by-laws  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  estab- 
lished by  said  Association. 

Subscribed  by  us  at  said  Bridgeport,  this  February  4tli, 
A.  D.,  1881. 

ROWLAND  B.  LACEY,  GEORGE  C.  WALDO, 
NATHANIEL  E.  WORDIN,  WILLIAM  B.  HINCKS, 
WILLIAM  H.  NOBLE,  LOUIS  N.  MIDDLEBROOK. 

Under  the  above  Articles  of  Association  the  Society  was 
formed,  and  continued  down  to  the  date  of  the  following 
Act  of  Incorporation. 


ioi2 


INCORPORATING  THE  FAIRFIELD  COUNTY  HIS- 
TORICAL SOCIETY. 


Jlesolved  by  this  ^ j,  . ( £.  fa 


r% 


XX 


O'T-  v TTfi  > i*>/wvwy  y 

Section  1.  That  Bovrhmd-  B.~  Darcy,  -6h?org’6  C*  Waldo, 
William  A.  Beers;  SaTmrd-OiTrnttr  ^ichaiTl  C.  Ambler,  Na* 
thaniel  E.  Wordin,  L.  TS7  MTddlnbrook,  William  B.  Hincks, 
and  Curtis  Thompson,  all  of  Fairfield  County,  present  officers 
and  members  of  The  Fairfield  County  Hi^orical  Scyiety,  a 
volointary -association  located  at  Bridgeport^'  in  said  countj^, 
together  with  such  other  persons  as  are  now  or  may  hereafter 
be  associated  with  them,  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  with  their 
successors,  constituted  a bodynolitic  iyn4  corporate  by  the 
name  of  The  i^^fieki^oiC  1 ' • * 

motion 

genealogic^r,  investj^iiiio»  relating  to  said  county  and  bhe 
towns  composing  i4randbfor  the  preservation  and  publication 
of  the  same,  and  with  power  to  purchase,  receive,  hold  and 
convey  real* and  personal  estate  to  an  amount  not  exceeding 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  which  together  with  the  income  there- 
of, used  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  shall  be  exempt  from  tax- 
ation ; that  said  corporation  may  have  a common  seal,  and 
may  establish  such  rules  and  by-laws  not  contrary  to  this 
charter  or  the  laws  of  this  State  or  of  the  United  States,  as 
it  may  from  time  to  time  deem  necessary,  relating  to  all  mat- 
ters connected  with  the  objects,  membership  and  government 
of  said  corporation. 

Sec.  2.  Said  corporation  shall  meet  once  in  each  year  for 
the  election  of  a president,  secretary,  treasurer  and  such 
other  officers  as  may  be  designated  from  time  to  time  by  the 
rules  and  by-laws  of  said  corporation ; provided,  hoivever , 
that  in  case  of  a failure  to  hold  such  annual  meeting,  or  elect 
its  officers,  said  corporation  shall  not  thereby  be  dissolved ; 
but  the  officers  of  said  corporation  shall  continue  to  exercise 


,VWU4 


i03 


the  powers  and  duties  of  their  several  offices  until  others 
shall  be  duly  appointed  in^tl^eip  stead. 

Sec.  3.  The  presenif'by-raws^ ~*and  rules  of  said  voluntary 
association,  and  the  officers  thereof,  shall  remain  tli^  by-laws, 
rules  and  officers  of  said  corporation  until  others  are  adopted 
and  appointed  in  their  stead. 

Sec.  4.  The  first  annual  meeting  of  said  corporation  shall 
be  held  in  the  Mayor's  office  in  the  City  of  Bridgeport, 
suclidime  as-abatt- be  designated  by  Rowland  B.  Baoey,  the 
president  e-f-sa^-rtfinirtary  association,  one  week’s  notice  of 


& 


-Approved,  March  24,  1885. 


V 


J 


; 'a? 


cP 


104 


BY-LAWS. 


RULE  I. 

The  officers  of  The  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society 
shall  consist  of  a President,  three  Vice-Presidents,  Treasurer, 
Recording  Secretary  and  Corresponding  Secretary,  who  shall 
be  chosen  annually  from  its  members  by  a majority  ballot  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society. 

The  term  of  the  officers  of  said  Society  shall  be  for  one 
year  from  their  election,  and  until  others  shall  be  chosen  in 
their  places ; and  their  powers  and  duties  shall  be  those  usu- 
ally appertaining  to  those  offices,  except  when  otherwise 
ordered  by  the  Society. 

Said  officers  shall  also  be  the  Executive  Committee  of  said 
Societ}r,  and  as  such  shall  have  charge  of  and  direct  all  mat- 
ters of  executive,  financial  and  clerical  business  appertaining 
to  the  management  of  the  Society,  except  when  otherwise 
ordered  by  the  Society. 

The  President  of  this  Society  shall  be,  ex-officio  Chairman 
of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Any  vacancy  occurring  in  any  of  said  offices  before  the  ex- 
piration of  its  term,  may  be  filled  for  the  unexpired  portion 
thereof,  by  those  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  said  Society, 
who  shall  begin  the  exercise  of  their  offices  at  the  time. 

RULE  II. 

The  regular  meetings  of  said  Society  shall  be  held  on  the 
second  Friday  evening  of  each  month  at  the  rooms  of  the 
Society. 

•The  annual  meeting  of  said  Society  shall  be  held  on  the 
second  Friday  of  April  in  each  year,  and  special  meetings 
may  be  held  whenever  the  Society  shall  so  order,  or  when  the 
President  and  Recording  Secretary  shall  deem  it  ^necessary 


105 


to  call  the  same.  Notice  of  the  annual  and  special  meetings 
shall  be  given  by  the  President  and  Kecording  Secretary  of 
the  time,  place  and  purpose  thereof,  by  three  days  publica- 
tion in  one  or  more  daily  newspapers,  published  in  the  City 
of  Bridgeport,  at  least  four  days  before  said  meeting. 

RULE  III. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  shall  be  the 
Auditor  of  the  Accounts  of  the  Society,  and  as  such  shall 
audit  and  approve  all  bills  of  expenses  incurred  by  the  society 
before  the  same  shall  be  ordered  paid,  and  only  upon  such 
audit,  and  an  order  of  payment  by  the  Society  or  Exective 
Committee,  shall  the  Treasurer  pay  out  any  funds  of  the 
Society. 

RULE  IV. 

The  Treasurer  of  the  Society  shall  be  also  Curator  of  the 
same  so  long  as  he  shall  be  Treasurer  ; and  the  duties  of  the 
office  of  Curator  shall  be,  to  have  the  care,  custody  and  pres- 
ervation of  books,  papers,  antiquities,  and  all  other  property 
of  the  Society. 

rule  v. 

The  election  of  new  members  of  said  Society  shall  be  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  by  ballot  or  otherwise,  at  any  annual,  regu- 
lar or  special  meeting  of  the  Society ; the  nomination  of 
such  new  members  having  first  been  made  at  a preceeding 
meeting  and  not  less  than  one  week  previous  to  such  voting. 

RULE  VI. 

No  application  for  membership  of  said  Society  shall  be 
entertained  or  acted  upon,  unless  accompanied  by  a written 
or  printed  request  of  the  applicant,  dated  and  signed  by  the 
applicant  in  person. 

RULE  VII. 

An  initiation  fee  of  two  dollars  shall  accompany  each  appli- 
cation for  annual  membership. 

RULE  VIII. 

A due  of  two  dollars  shall  be  laid  upon  each  annual  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  living  in  Bridgeport,  Stratford,  Trumbull 


106 


and  Fairfield,  and  one  dollar  for  all  the  others.  This  amount 
shall  be  paid  to  the  Treasurer  annually,  during  the  month  of 
July,  unless  excused  by  the  Society. 

Any  member  remaining  in  arrears  for  dues  may  be  dropped 
from  membership  by  a majority  vote  of  the  members  present 
at  any  regular  meeting  of  the  Society. 

RULE  IX, 

Any  approved  person  may,  upon  election  according  to 
Rule  V.,  become  a Life  Member  on  the  payment  of  two  hun- 
dred dollars,  or  a Patron  member  for  five  years  on  the  pay- 
ment of  twenty-five  dollars,  and  both  Life  and  Patron  Mem- 
bers shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  the  Society. 
The  Society  may  elect,  according  to  the  manner  provided  in 
Rule  Y,  as  Honorary  Members,  persons  whose  membership 
may  be  an  honor  or  advantage  to  said  Society,  and  they  shall 
be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  the  Society  except  voting. 

All  members  other  than  Life,  Patron  and  Honorary  shall 
be  known  and  designated  as  Annual  Members. 

rule  x. 

These  Rules  and  By-Laws  may  be  altered,  amended,  re- 
pealed or  added  to,  by  a majority  vote  of  the  members 
present  at  any  annual,  regular  or  special  meeting  of  said 
Society,  notice  of  such  proposed  repeal,  alteration  or  amend- 
ment having  been  given  at  a previous  meeting  of  the  Society, 
not  less  than  one  week  before  final  action  thereon  is  taken. 

RULE  XI. 

The  Rules  of  this  Society  may  be  temporarily  suspended 
by  unanimous  consent  of  all  the  members  present  at  any  Reg- 
ular, annual,  or  special  meeting  of  the  Society. 


107 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


NAME. 


RESIDENCE. 


Adams,  F.  C., 

Ambler,  Mrs.  Jennie  B., 
Beardsley,  Jas.  W., 
Burroughs,  Prof.  Geo.  S. 
Byington,  A.  Homer. 
Bronson,  Frederick, 
Bailey,  J.  M., 

Bacon,  John  W., 
Beardsley,  Morris  B., 
Burton,  Silas. 

Bishop,  Mrs.  Julia  A., 
Burroughs,  James  R., 
Bradley,  Cyrus  Sherwood, 
Burton,  Henry  Eugene, 
Brewster,  Lyman  D., 
Buckingham,  Mrs.  G A., 
Banks,  Samuel  S. 

Calef,  Thomas, 

Curtis,  Robert  W., 
Comstock,  Albert  S., 
Carter,  Samuel  L., 

Carter,  Chas.  H., 
Cruttenden,  Mrs.  F.  II., 
Comstock,  Mrs.  A.  S., 
Coughlin,  Patrick, 
Chapman,  Geo.  P., 
Coggswell,  H.  C., 

Dexter,  O.  P., 

Deacon,  Edward, 
DeForest,  T.  B., 

Fairchild,  Horace  L., 
Fairchild,  Thomas.  B., 


Bridgeport,  Ct.,  25  Hough  ave. 
Nichols,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Amherst,  Mass. 

Norwalk,  Ct. 

Greenfield  Hill,  Ct. 

Danbury,  Ct. 

Danbury,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct.,  231  Park  ave. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  286  Stratford  aAe. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  254  Was’ton  ave. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  500  Fairfield  ave. 
Southport,  Ct. 

Middletown,  Ct. 

Danbury,  Ct. 

Newtown,  Mass. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct.,  170  Park  ave. 
Stratford,  Ct. 

18  Wall  st.,N.Y..  A. M. Kidder &Co. 
N.  Y.  City,  4 Irving  Place. 

N.  Y.  City,  138  West  43d  st. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  187  Stratford  ave. 
New  Canaan,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct.,  24  Park  st. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  101  Was’ton  ave. 
N.  Y.  City,  Box  193. 

Bridgeport,  Ct.,  77  Grove  st. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  227  Main  st. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Stratford,  Ct. 


108 


NAME.  RESIDENCE. 

Gould,  James  L.,  Bridgeport,  Ct.,  21  Fairfield  ave. 

Gaelick,  Samuel  M.,  M.  D., Bridgeport,  Ct.,  256  State  st. 


Hincks,  Wm.  B., 

Hawley,  Elias  S., 
Hubbell,  Walter, 
Hawley,  Alexander, 
Hawley,  Mrs.  Alexander, 
Hills,  Mrs.  Agnes, 
Holden,  Isaac, 

Ireland,  Jos.  N., 

Jennings,  Oliver  B., 
Johnson,  Samuel  W., 
Jones,  N.  H., 

Kingman,  Samuel  C., 
Lacey,  Rowland  B., 

, Lacey,  Mrs.  Rowland  B., 
Lockwood,  David  B., 
Leavenworth,  Mark  R., 
Lambert,  Edward  R., 

Lee,  Henry, 

Lyon,  Henry  W., 

Lyon,  Frederick  H , 

Lyon,  Henry  M., 

Lyon,  Wm.  K., 
Middlebrook,  Louis  N., 
Maxey,  Eaton  AY.,  D.  D , 
Miller,  David  H., 
Meaker,  Edward  F., 

Me aker,  Arthur  E., 
Merritt,  Dr.  Chas., 
Morford,  George, 
Morgan,  Daniel  N., 
Marsh,  Edward  AV., 
Nichols,  Warren  B., 
Nichols,  Rev.  G.  H., 
Nichols,  Horace, 
Nichols,  Rev.  C.  AV.  De.  I 
Nichols  Stephen, 


Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  110  Franklin  st. 

N.  Y.  City. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct.  Public  Library. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  142  Stratford  ave. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,389  State  st. 
Fairfield,  Ct. 

Mamaroneck,  N.  Y. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

AVashington  Depot,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct.,  225  Noble  ave. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  58  Harriet  st. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  236  Myrtle  ave. 
Bridgeport.  Ct.,  20  Fairfield  ave. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Troy,  N.  Y. 

Georgetown,  Ct. 

Bridgeport,  Ct.,  269  Fairfield  ave. 
Bethlehem,  Pa. 

N.  Y.  City,  39  West  42d  st. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  175  Main  st. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  AVashington  ave. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  Fairfield  ave. 
Bridgeport,  Ct.,  453  Fairfield  ave. 
Hoosick  Falls,  N.  Y. 

Bridgeport,  Ct.,  99  Courtland  st. 
,Tottenville,  N.  Y. 

Bridgeport,  Ct. 


109 


NAME. 

Nichols,  Walter, 

Nichols,  Rev.  Wm.  F., 
Noble,  Miss  Henrietta  M. 
Noble,  Gen.  Wm.  H., 
Orcutt,  Rev.  Samuel, 
Perry,  Frederick  M., 
Perry,  AVinthrop  H., 
Phillips,  Ebenezer  S., 
Relyea,  Albert, 

Russell,  Robert  H., 
Rylands,.  Henry  C , 
Scofield,  H.  G., 

Shelton,  H.  T., 

Shelton,  John  C., 
Sherwood,  Wm.  L., 

Somers,  James,  M., 

Stevens,  Fred  S., 

Steward,  Aurelius, 

Seeley,  Wm.  E., 

Todd,  Chas.  Burr, 
Thompson,  Curtis, 

Torrey,  Mrs.  Harriet  L., 
Thompson,  John  W., 
YanKeuren,  Louis  N , 
Wordin,  N.  E.,  M.  D., 
AValdo,  Geo.  C. 

AVells,  Nathan  B., 
AVildman,  Frederick  S., 
AAtheeler,  Geo.  W., 
•AVheeler,  Nathaniel, 
AViieeler,  Mrs.  Mary  G, 


RESIDENCE. 


Bridgeport,  Ct. 
San  Francisco, 

, Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Southport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Norwalk,  Ct. 
Stratford,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Newark,  N.  J., 
Bridgeport,  Ct 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Redding,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct 
Stratford,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Stratford,  Ct. 
Danbury,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct 


, 350  State  st- 
Cal. 


, 64  AVest  ave. 

, 97  Courtland  st. 
, 1,068  Main  st. 
Box  55. 

.,62  Park  st. 

, 298  Lafayette  st. 
,110  AVas’ton  ave. 
, 399  State  st. 


.,  500  Fairfield  ave. 


, 85  Gol’n  Hill  st. 


, 138  Gol’n  Hill  st. 
, 138  Gohn  Hill  st. 


110 


HONORARY  MEMBERS. 


Rev.  Benjamin  L.  Swan, 
J.Hammond  Trumbull, LL.D. 
Charles  J.  Hoadley,  LL.D., 
A.  W.  Morehouse, 

Rev.  C.  Ray  Palmer,  D.  D., 
Maj.  L.  N.  Middlebrook, 


Mendham,  N.  J. 
Hartford,  Ct. 
Hartford,  Ct. 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 


MEMBERS  DECEASED. 


Aaron  B.  Hull, 

Richard  C.  Ambler, 
William  T.  Minor, 
Lemuel  Sanford, 

Henry  M.  Hoyt, 

William  A.  Beers, 
William  Shelton,  D.  D., 
Stiles  M.  Middlebrook, 
Samuel  M.  Main, 
Barzillai  B.  Kellogg, 
John  D.  Candee, 

Plumb  N.  Fairchild, 

Eli  T.  Hoyt, 

Phineas  T.  Barnum, 

Amos  S.  Treat, 

Samuel  B.  Sumner, 

Sidney  B.  Beardsley, 

Mrs.  Mary  Kate  Perry, 
Oliver  C.  Bullard, 
Johnson  T.  Platt, 

Rev.  E.  E.  Beardsley, 

D.  D.  LL.  D. 

Rev.  H.  N.  Powers,  D.  D. 


Danbury,  Ct. 
Nichols,  Ct. 
Stamford,  Ct. 
Redding,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Fairfield,  Ct. 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Brookfield,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Trumbull,  Ct. 
Danbury,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Bridgeport,  Ct. 
New  Haven,  Ct. 

New  Haven,  Ct. 
Orange,  N.  J. 


Ill 


NECROLOGY. 


OLIVER  CROSBY  BULLARD, 

Was  born  in  Sutton,  Mass  , in  1822,  the  son  of  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Artemus  Bullard.  He  was  liberally  educated  and  studied 
for  the  ministry,  but  failing  health  compelled  its  abandon- 
ment. At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  civil  war,  his  patriotic 
and  humane  nature  was  profoundly  stirred,  and  he  enlisted 
in  the  service  of  the  U.  S.,  Sanitary  Commission,  associated 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Bellows,  F.  Law  Olmstead  and  others,  and 
continued  through  the  whole  conflict,  until  the  affairs  of  the 
Commission  were  closed  up  in  1866  or  67.  His  work  took 
him  into  some  of  the  most  famous  battle  fields  of  the  war, 
and  the  story  of  his  heroic  service  at  Gettysburg  and  in  the 
Department  of  the  Gulf  is  most  thrilling. 

Naturally  fitted  therefor,  he  now  gave  his  attention  to 
landscape  gardening,  was  a number  of  years  engaged  in  the 
improvement  and  beautifying  of  Prospect  Park  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  and  the  Public  Grounds  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  under 
the  advice  and  general  direction  of  the  celebrated  F.  Law 
Olmstead,  whose  confidence  and  friendship  he  enjoyed.  He 
was  a man  of  superior  taste  and  executive  ability,  which  was 
thus  enriched  and  cultivated  by  an  experience  of  the  best 
sort.  For  six  years  he  resided  here,  and  had  charge  of  our 
public  parks,  devoting  himself  most  assiduously  to  their  de- 
velopment and  further  improvement.  Bridgeport  was  es- 
pecially fortunate  in  securing  so  competent  a man  for  the 
superintendance  of  her  park  improvements,  in  the  formative 
period. 

While  he  did  not  allow  anything  to  interfere  with  his  busi- 
ness and  profession,  he  was  a man  of  broad  views  and  a wide 
culture.  He  was  especially  interested  in  historical  and  gene- 
alogical matters.  He  became  a member  of  this  society  Nov. 


112 


11,  1887,  and  was  counted  one  of  its  most  valuable  contribut- 
ing members.  He  died  after  a very  short  illness,  Oct.  25, 
1890,  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  leaving  the  aroma  of  a 
lovely  and  unblemished  character,  deejffy  mourned  and  his 
loss  regretted  by  all. 


PHINEAS  TAYLOR  BARNUM. 

There  is  probably  no  man'  not  a politician  or  statesman, 
whose  name  has  been  so  universaily  known  among  English 
speaking  people,  as  that  of  our  late  fellow  citizen,  Plhneas  T. 
Barnum.  Born  in  an  obscure  village  of  our  state,  without 
advantage  from  birth  or  fortune,  by  his  indomitable  perse- 
verance, his  energy  and  Yankee  wit  he  became  world  famous 
as  the  embodiment  of  American  ingenuity  and  enterprise. 

Gifted  by  nature  with  a faculty  almost  approaching  to 
genius,  whereby  he  turned  to  personal  advantage  those  vicis- 
situdes common  to  human  life,  under  which  so  many  fail,  he 
snatched  success  from  misfortune,  and  attained  prosperity 
through  disaster. 

When  at  length  as  the  reward  of  unabated  effort  assured 
success  and  wealth  were  his,  Mr.  Barnum  did  not  lock  up  his 
generous  impulses  in  his  coffers,  but  with  liberal  hand  was 
ever  ready  to  aid  and  promote  those  laudable  enterprises 
which  commended  themselves  to  his  judgment. 

It  does  not  pertain  to  this  brief  notice  to  sketch  the  life  of 
one  so  widely  known.  Through  his  autobiography,  of  which 
it  is  said  upwards  of  a million  copies  were  sold,  the  facts  of 
Mr.  Barnum’s  career  can  be  readily  ascertained  ; that  which 
for  the  present  purpose  specially  interests  this  society  arises 
from  his  noble  gift  to  this  and  our  sister  society,  which  will 
ever  cause  his  name  to  be  held  in  honored  remembrance  by 
them. 

Feb.  13,  1885,  Mr  Barnum  was  elected  a member  of  the 
Historical  Society.  In  the  year  1886,  he  deeded  to  the  joint 
societies  a valuable  lot  situated  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Gilbert  streets,  Bridgeport,  and  anticipating  the  hope  which 
had  been  felt,  he  supplemented  this  gift  with  a noble  provis- 


113 


sion  for  the  erection  of  a suitable  building 'for  the  uses  of 
the  two  societies. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  enlarge  upon  the  generosity  which  has 
placed  this  nearly  completed  and  handsome  structure  to  add 
to  the  beauty  of  our  city  and  the  utility  of  our  institutions, 
the  deed  and  its  embodiment  speak  for  themselves,  as  they 
will  continue  to  speak  we  trust  for  many  generations  to 
come. 

Mr.  Barnum’s  eventful  life,  rounded  out  by  this  notable 
act,  came  to  an  honored  close,  April  7th,  1891,  in  the  81st 
year  of  his  age.  The  rooms  of  the  society  exhibit  numerous 
tokens  of  Mr.  Barnum’s  lively  interest  in  our  work,  a hand- 
some book-case  and  a valuable  set  of  furniture  sufficiently 
testify  to  his  desire  to  add  to  our  facilities  and  increase  our 
usefulness. 

It  would  be  well  for  the  whole  community  were  there  more 
men  of  ample  means  with  the  large  heartedness  and  public 
generosity  of  our  late  lamented  fellow  citizen  and  honored 
member,  P.  T.  Barnum. 


RICJHARD  0.  AMBLER. 

It  is  with  sincere  regret  that  we  here  record  the  death  of 
our  late  Treasurer  and  Curator,  Richard  C.  Ambler,  Esq., 
who  passed  away  at  the  early  age  of  38  years,  the  12th  day 
of  September,  1891. 

Strictly  conscientious,  modest  and  retiring,  yet  a man  of 
scholarly  tastes  and  of  literary  ability,  Mr.  Ambler  was  held 
in  high  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him.  Born  at  Nichols,  in 
the  town  of  Trumbull,  in  1853,  a graduate  of  Yale  Law 
School  in  1878,  he  followed  the  pursuit  most  congenial  to 
his  taste,  and  won  by  the  exercise  of  those  qualities  we  have 
noted,  that  place  at  the  Fairfield  county  bar  which  justified 
their  high  eulogium  upon  him.  He  was  the  son  of  Charles 
Ambler  of  the  firm  of  F.  P.  Ambler  & Son,  who  conducted  a 
lucrative  saddlery  business  during  the  late  war. 

After  his  graduation,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Seymour 
& Seymour  of  Bridgeport,  but  eventually  opened  an  office 
for  himself,  and  by  industry  and  ability,  steadily  built  up  a 


ill 


business  of  liis  own;  lie  was  much  interested  on  behalf  of  his 
clients  in  the  French  spoliation  claims,  and  labored  faithfully 
for  years  to  bring  about  an  equitable  adjustment  for  them. 
He  married  Miss  Jennie  Beardsley,  (daughter  of  Stephen 
Beardsley,  of  Huntington)  wdio  and  a little  daughter  sur- 
vive him. 

Mr.  Ambler  was  a consistent  member  of  Trinity  Episcopal 
Church,  Nichols,  where  he  resided,  and  was  ever  active 
in  the  church  work  of  his  parish.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  though  he  never  sought  office  was  chosen  to 
represent  the  town  of  Trumbull  in  the  Legislature  of  1889- 
90 ; he  was  also  a member  of  St.  John’s  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M. 

Mr.  Ambler  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the  Histor- 
ical Society,  and  was  ever  ready  to  lend  his  aid  to  advance 
its  interests  and  add  to  its  usefulness.  He  contributed  some 
valuable  papers  which  were  read  before  the  society  upon  the 
early  history  of  Unity  Parish,  Stratford,  with  sketches  of  the 
labors  of  the  Rev.  Richardson  Minor,  first  pastor,  and  Rev. 
James  Beebe,  his  successor.  An  ancient  chair  donated  by 
his  widow,  inscribed  on  a silver  plate  with  his  name  and 
office,  will  serve  to  keep  fresh  his  memory  in  the  rooms  of  the 
Historical  Society. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  in  Trinity  Church,  Nichols, 
and  were  largely  attended  ; his  remains  were  deposited  in 
the  village  cemetery  Sept.  15th,  1891.  In  his  death  the  so- 
ciety loses  a valuable  and  useful  officer. 

MRS.  MARY  KATHARINE  (BURROUGHS)  PERRY, 

Wife  of  Mr.  Frederick  M.  Perry,  of  Bridgeport,  died  Feb.  23, 
1892,  leaving  a husband  and  son,  one  sister  and  one  brother, 
both  married,  and  both  members  of  this  Historical  Sociefy. 

Mrs.  Perry  was  elected  a member  of  this  society,  Sept.  9, 
1887,  and  became  at  once  energetic  in  forwarding  its  enter- 
prises, and  rendered  special  valuable  aid  in  securing  material 
for  the  unusually  interesting  paper  published  in  the  Society’s 
Annual  of  that  year,  on  Capt.  Stephen  Boroughs. 

It  was  by  a peculiar  thoughtfulness,  for  a young  lady7, 
years  before,  on  the  occasion  when  a considerable  quantity 


115 


of  old  manuscript  books  and  papers,  the  accumulation  of 
more  than  a hundred  years  in  the  Borroughs  family  were  to 
be  committed  to  the  flames,  that  she  rescued  a large  quantity 
and  preserved  them,  and  they  proved  to  be  mostly  the  ac- 
count books  and  papers  of  Capt.  Stephen  Burroughs,  the 
value  of  which  may  be  seen  in  the  paper  above  referred  to. 

The  society  regrets  very  sincerely,  the  loss  of  its  members, 
but  especially  those  in  active  life,  who  have  a taste  for  hunt- 
ing up  and  preserving  material  in  the  line  of  history  ; and  it 
most  cordially  commends  the  example  set  by  this,  one  of  its 
early  members. 


PLUMB  NIGHOLS  FAIKOHILD, 

Died  March  14,  1892,  at  the  Atlantic  Hotel  in  Bridgeport, 
Ct.,  of  pneumonia.  He  was  born  Nov.  12,  1809,  and  was  82 
years  4 months  and  2 days  old.  He  left  a good  estate  but 
no  children,  his  wife  having  died  a few  days  before  him. 

He  was  the  son  of  Col.  Lewis  Fairchild,  was  born  at  the 
old  homestead  in  Trumbull,  Ct.,  and  raised  a farmer.  In 
1827,  he  engaged  in  the  paper  mill,  near  the  homestead,  then 
owned  by  his  father  and  uncles,  where  he  remained  until 
1847,  when  he  and  his  brother,  Daniel  Fairchild,  purchased 
the  mill  property,  which  they  conducted  successfully  until 
1861,  when  Mr.  Horace  L.  Fairchild  became  a member  of  the 
firm,  and  they  sold  the  same  in  1886.  He  was  a director  in 
the  Bridgeport  National  Bank  many  years. 

Mr.  Fairchild  was  a Bepublican  in  politics,  and  in  1847, 
represented  the  town  of  Trumbull  in  the  Legislature.  He 
had  also  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was  prom- 
inent in  advancing  all  the  public  interests  of  his  native  town. 

He  was  elected  a member  of  this  society  Jan.  12,  1888,  and 
gave  it  a cordial  support  until  his  decease. 

In  1855,  he  married  Jennett  H.,  daughter  of  Charles  A. 
Lewis,  of  Bridgeport,  who  died  a few  days  before  her  hus- 
band. 

Mr.  Fairchild’s  great-grandmother  on  his  father’s  side  was 
Sarah  Thompson,  as  recorded  in  the  Stratford  town  records, 


116 


and  lie  made  considerable  effort  to  ascertain  her  father's 
name  but  failed.  This  Historical  Society  would  be  glad  to 
secure  that  information. 

SAMUEL  MERWIN  MAIN. 

Was  born  in  the  town  of  Weston  March  14,  1813,  the  son  of 
Joshua  and  Hannah  (Gilbert)  Main.  His  life  was  moulded 
in  a pure,  Christian  home  with  such  advantages  of  early  edu- 
cation as  his  native  place  afforded.  These  were  supplement- 
ed by  his  own  unaided  efforts  in  study  and  observation  by 
which  he  became  an  educated  man  in  the  best  sense.  His 
special  religious  life  he  dated  from  his  twentieth  year  when 
he  connected  himself  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Later  in  life,  during  his  residence  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  he 
joined  a Congregational  church,  and  was  always  an  active 
Christian  worker  to  the  close  of  his  long  life — a temperance 
man  in  word  and  practice — a strong  anti-Slavery  man,  to 
whom  the  fugitive  could  safely  turn  for  aid  and  comfort. 
Youthful  in  spirit  he  was  a member  of  the  “ Band  of  Hope,” 
and  active  in  the  Sunday  School. 

A true  son  of  New  England,  the  memories  of  its  early 
homes,  habits  and  institutions,  had  for  him  a peculiar  charm. 

He  became  a member  of  this  Society  April  22,  1882,  and 
at  once  manifested  his  interest  in  its  work  in  the  interesting 
and  important  paper  on  the  Stillwellite  Methodists,  prepared 
and  read  before  the  society,  and  in  relics  he  collected  and 
labeled  with  great  care,  and  presented  to  the  society,  where 
they  will  be  carefully  preserved  and  exhibited,  to  interest 
and  instruct  coming  generations,  and  keep  his  memory  green. 
Mr.  Main’s  occupation  as  a salesman,  brought  him  into  contact 
with  a vast  number  of  the  busy,  active  men  of  the  country, 
among  whom  he  made  a great  many  fast  friends,  indeed  he 
was  greatly  respected  and  beloved  by  all.  He  was  much  in- 
terested in  the  new  building  now  being  erected  for  the 
Scientific  and  Historical  Societies,  and  had  planned  a visit 
here  during  his  summer  vacation,  but  the  Heavenly  Father 
ordered  otherwise.  He  ceased  his  labors  May  5th,  1892, 
after  a short  illness,  and  passed  on  to  other  scenes  and  la- 
bors, no  doubt  even  more  congenial. 


117 


REV.  EBENEZER  EDWARDS  BEARDSLEY,  D.  D.  LL.  D., 

Had  been  an  honorary  member  of  this  society  since  1884. 
He  was  the  son  of  Elihu  and  Ruth  (Edwards)  Beardsley,  and 
was  born  Jan.  8,  1808,  in  the  village  of  Stepney,  town  of 
Monroe,  Ct.,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  New  Haven,  Ct., 
Dec.,  21,  1891,  at  the  age  of  nearly  84  years.  He  was  grad- 
uated at  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  Ct.,  in  1832,  was  ordained 
deacon  August  11,  1835,  and  priest  October  24,  1836 ; 
served  as  rector  of  St.  Peters  Church,  Cheshire,  Ct.,  from 
1836  to  1818,  when  he  became  rector  of  St.  Thomas’  Church, 
at  New  Haven,  in  which  he  continued  active  service  until  his 
decease. 

Trinity  College  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  in  1854,  and  Columbia  College  of  New  York,  that  of 
LL.  D.,  in  1874.  He  published  six  volumes  of  history  and 
biography,  besides  a number  of  historical  papers  of  much 
value.  He  had  long  been  prominent  in  the  Episcopal  Church, 
serving  it  in  many  responsible  positions  with  great  efficiency, 
fidelity  and  acceptability. 


118 


CHART  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


The  Chart  of  the  American  Revolution  inserted  in  this 
Annual,  was  found  by  Mr.  Orcutt,  while  searching  for  old 
books,  papers  and  documents  for  the  Historical  Society.  It 
was  made  by  J.  W.  Barber,  for  a lady  school  teacher,  of  Oro- 
noke,  in  Stratford,  Ct.,  to  accompany  a small  History  for 
children,  to  be  used  in  the  public  schools,  and  a small  edition 
of  the  book  including  the  chart,  was  issued  by  a Boston 
House,  but  no  special  effort  made  to  sell  the  work.  Some 
copies  of  the  Chart  remaining  unused  were  secured  for  this 
Annual,  as  being  especially  appropriate,  and  of  decided  in- 
terest and  value  in  the  study  of  History. 


THE  Eldpmr  ITKAR  'B  -OF  TMFWAM.  (QF-THE  MEMM  IRIETO ILTHTIIfD  W a 


...  )l,'ul-:"ui’'r>' 

■M-3^ 


Battle  afBam  myton  AngjR  . 


E<itflr  • v'  It i inker  Hill  June  n. 

t'amhnJae  p- 


RHODE  ISLAND 


The.  British  hike  possession 
nf  Rhode  Island  Bee  & 


467  merchantmen  captured 
bardie  Americans  this  year 


_ dk/i  Jtescott 
- prisoner  Try  (oLEarton 


■rom — ^ 


Sempisdf.S.mpUtred  fy. 


hi  these  two  years  10.646  British. 


Inairswn  of  the British.  M/z>  hi.  Bedford 
rmd  Fair  Haven  Sept.  5 


French /Zy?  arrives  /^Newport 


FaiiL  Jones* 
J£4'>*  Sept.  2 3 


troops  were  sent  over  to -America 

m 


Americ/uis  defeated  at  Penobscot  Aug. 


Eight,  prizes  taken.  irvu> 
Boston  In'  (apt. Whipple 
value  1 milium,  dollars 


♦W#^riWSTAv 


Rhi  de  Islands  evaluated  by  the  British 


H. Laurens  USMin  .captured  v,at 

~TP® m 


-HrliMi 


It  is  estimated  that 
eight  hundred,  k three 


i Rochambean-  with  a fleet  arid  ar/.’i.y 
arrive  at  Newport. ^ ■K- 


John  Ha 


.1 c.frm 


durin.y  the  Revolutionary  War  the  Am  eric  an  cruisers  captured 


vessels  k the  value,  of  merchandize  ohtai 


ned  twelve  millions  of  duds. 
RrOeciTrea-  tVc.e  EibridgrGmy 


0 Washington  visits  Bochambcan 
at  Newport  March 


losiah  Raitlet* . William  Wmpt..e, 
Matthew  Thornton 


Aasms.  Jcrm  Adams. 


Stephen  tLopTm 
William  Elierv . 


gif  Jfuineivus  prizes  taken  by 
W Ihe  Conn.  tUJt'Mass.  vessels. 


CQKSTECTirrT 


Danbury  hum! 

^ -p-'  'ieaWdosXer  killed 


Conference  hetweenWaslungton  Ss 
Eochambeau  at  ^Hartford S'ept.  21 


Fairfield  and  Norwalk 

burnt  July 


■ 9 wdfc 

£ren rtuKfimeriean  ' ' 

.'•/risen'  rue/  Mr.’  21 
<j/Wethtemeld 
; ; New  London  hunt  Blais 

; i wold  taken  Sept.  6 


Roger  Sherman. 
Samuel  Huntington. 
William  Williams . 
Oliver  Wolcott. 


Battle  of  WhitfEU. 
The  British'^ 


m... 

Battle  of  (yhAsscrp  Sunrmiero/V,  urgqyne 


William  Eloyd . 
Philip  Livni  g ston , 
Francis  Lewis . 
Lewis  Morris . 


Cen ■ Sullivan  ravages 
the  Indian  Cminpr,' 


Ra  tile  on  longTHy.  71.  - Estreat 


Leper  Bug.  6 
/?  ( "linton  and  Mmnvfnim 

taken  0cL6  ~- 


Nrw  Windsor  o-.. 


Treason-  'at' Arnold  - - - 
Andre  hung  Oct  S New- 


iw;na«nr  do  Juncrion^vV/V  French  and 

™ . gnuriftinj  near  Tkibhs  Ferry 


Bead  (/i/artmnS  Newtiury 

..sS 

Peace  Proclaimed 
: Armv  disbanded  in  1183 


NEW  JERSEY 


Estreat  ef0t&Ameriams  threufh 
Vie  Jersey  b, /K... , „ , tfikds  . ■-  i 

" kj 

OeniLee  captured  ^ ^Battle  IItIL t5n 

VCC.  Id.  I_  Jjec  20  \ / 


! Encamp merit.  Pi  Morristown  • t 


Washington  crosses  the  Deldhvare  Bee.  7. 

.C1V/1  ..  wL. 


The.  British  take  possess 

of  Ikfladelphiiutyv.  27  J .f 


i§mi m 

.Attack  cr.  lied  Bank  fa.22 


DELAWARE 


\ 


Loan  Offices  established  in  the 
various  States:  $.M)0.000 borrowed. 


t'alliy  Forye  Massacre  at 


VV^voming-  • July  ; 


The  Brilisli  evacuate  i 

rttiladelphia  Juno  Id  jjjy 


M AliYI AN  \ 1 


Congress  Mjl  uru  ■■ 
Baltimore  Peel? 


Mi-emoc.-'  ^ a *4  bird  Dimmore 

rdires  on  hoard  tf 

v 1 P,  < VI  N"  I A 'irVnisAaJuppinii 


Norfolk  hunt  by 
the  British  .l/in  . l. 


NORTH  CAROUNA 


SOTTli  CAROLINA 


or.'  Sullivans  l-Aan&d/u?,- 28 

iil^  77/<(!_herokees 


Sward  Tcntledjs 
Thomas  Heyward  it 
Thomas  Lvuch  Jr 
Arthur  Mddl  eton 


GEORGIA 


"Battle  />/Mon  moil  tli 
June  2S 


'9' Bead  (Miarters 
at  Mid  (llel  nook 


elphia 


Continental 
160  millions 
rth  40  of  pap  er 


paper  Monty  ui  oirculaUon  m 1779 
of  doHs.-In  1780  one  silver  dollar 
afterwards  of  no  value. 


Thomas  M'Eian 
Cassar  Hodngy 

Geor^eTiead 


Sa.rn.ud  Chase,  Wiliam. Faca., 
Thomas  Stone  Charles  Carroll 

of  Cajrolhon. 


iifeiMfe 

litjtainr  with  28  sail  arul  Jn  o 
French  tn;p.  arm/e  oil  ihe  a, us!  or 
Virginia  -arienvnrds  at  Jcwpcnt 


tm 


Eevdt of  part  at'  ihe  Ear 
_ .'Isrirv  troops 


liavplmusen  s Tneurswn  June 
Action  near  Sprin  a field. 


Richard  Stockton. 
John  'Witherspoon. 
Francis  Hopkins  on. 
John  Hart. 
Abraham  Clark. 


Mutiny  in,  the  Pennsylvania  Line  of  the 
Continental  army 
Jiuul 


Ro, belt  Morris.-  Benjamin  Rush 
BfntamuiFrahkbn.-  John  Morton. 
Gteorge  Clvmer , - J ames  Smith. 
Gjeorye  Taylor  JamesWison 
G/eorgeRcss . 


aptunrs  die  fen  lfieile  JprQ  f. 


lieGrasse  enters  the 
Chesapeak  with  a French 

,7.0  v.„. 


fleet.  Sept. 


or'  (iomwallis , (>rt.  w 


GsozgJWytaz .-  R’chardkeiiiyLee. 
Thomas  Jefferson-  Befflammliamson. 
ThoinasNdsonJr--Frai!cis  Lightfoot 
Carter  Braxton. 


m- 


William  Hooper 
Joseph.  Hews 
John  Penn. 


Frigate  Ran  d olph  32giois 
blown,  up  in  aiu  engage 
merit  at  sen  April  8 


Ravannah  taken  by 
the  British  Beceni29 


TTTTT- ,'T.  ,i.r  2871.  ly  JUnsTarier . ::  rhe  Office  of  the  lihmrinn  of  fonpress  at  Washhuiton  . 

CHR©N©L©€I€AL  TABLE  OF  THE  AMERICAN  HEVOLUTlONe  SIMWK  THE  TIME  AMD  PLACE  Of  EACH  EVEWTo 

willi  ti  list  of  the  §i(&MiEiRS  of  the  Beclabatmn  ©f  Iwjiip.iPELTiDiEH'eiE , ainram^eal  Luol  the  liimatg  ©f  the  Thuirtieiem  ©T^iGiHi^lL  Stated  they  aepFP  3 eaated 


Invented  Drawn  .V  rnyraveu  hv  I.WBarher 


